The Baltimore City Code carries the same requirement for a knife and carries the same penalties.

Baltimore City Code, Article 19, Section 59-22 — Switch-blade knives
(a) Possession or sale, etc., prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, carry, or possess any knife with an automatic spring or other device for opening and/or closing the blade, commonly known as a switch-blade knife.

(b) Penalties. Any person violating the provisions of this section, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $500 or be imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, in the discretion of the court.

Code of Maryland, Section 4-105 (click here)
(a) Prohibited. A person may not sell, barter, display, or offer to sell or barter:
(1) a knife or a penknife having a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife, commonly called a switchblade knife or a switchblade penknife; or
(2) a device that is designed to propel a knife from a metal sheath by means of a high-compression ejector spring, commonly called a shooting knife.

The Police Union is creating propaganda. There are several website pretending to know the facts when the knife has never been public knowledge. Is the Baltimore Sun the only media that actually does research before publishing?

"Good Faith" while claiming by defense attorneys, is not always granted by the court.

 Defenses: Qualified (Good-Faith) Immunity (click here)

The above information comes from the:

 AELE LAW LIBRARY OF CASE SUMMARIES:
Civil Liability of Law Enforcement Agencies & Personnel

The Directors and Trustees (click here) are densely qualified with police enforcement and management experience.

You'll excuse the pun, but, the defense attorneys of the Baltimore police are shooting from the hip to attempt contamination of the jury pool. It is the "Zimmerman Defense."" The clown from Tulsa did the same thing. Sp, if people want to talk about ethical issues we can start there. Lawyers when found to have violated ethical issues such as contaminating the jury pool, can have their licenses to practice put in peril.

There is criticism of Ms. Mosby in that she is too naive and untested to carry out a legitimate prosecution. It has been stated this case charging Baltimore police with the death of Freddie Gray is atypical.

Ms. Mosby is well qualified. The Justice Department is involved in this case as well. If Ms. Mosby's ELECTED practice sets new precedent; then it is welcome and refreshing. 

A man died. He was alive when he came into police custody. Are there people actually stating that isn't important? So, according to dissenters the police are innocent. They do not bring to the discussion the fact Freddie Gray has been found innocent as well and he is dead. Their arguments are rather troubling in that a person, innocent or guilty, can be taken into police custody, lose their civil rights, robbed of due process and pronounced dead. Excuse me?

Where in history has there been Midwest tornadoes and an Atlantic hurricane?

May 9, 2015
2330.19Z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (Click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

May 9, 2015
By Associated Press

...It was too early (click here) to determine the extent of damage or whether there were any injuries.

She says the town of Burkburnett set off its tornado siren at 5:55 p.m.
6:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service says a tornado has touched down in North Texas.
Weather Service spotters reported the twister on the ground late Saturday afternoon near Cisco, about 100 miles west of Fort Worth. The storm containing the tornado was accompanied by hail as large as oranges....

I don't recall anything like this. There are tornadoes that occur within the circumference of a hurricane, but, not this. This is a Midwest tornado(es) that developed from an autonomous system than the hurricane. Never. The normal troposphere has a tornado season and a hurricane season, but, never both at the same time. Hurricane season isn't suppose to start until June 1st. It's hot. Earth can't get rid of the heat.

This NOAA satellite image taken Friday, May 8, 2015 at 09:45 AM EDT shows a ridge of high pressure building over the East. Underneath the ridge is a development of a Sub Tropical Storm named Ana. The storm is slowing moving to the Northwest and expected to effect North and South Carolina coastline. The biggest effect from the storm will be heavy rains with winds up to 45 MPH. To the northeast is a cold front with a streak of clouds that extends from Canada to Maine and offshore. This is creating cooler conditions for Eastern New England. Most active weather remains in the Mid-West where thunderstorms are firing up a long a large cold front. (Weather Underground via AP) ( /Associated Press)

May 9, 2015
By Jon Erdman

Ana originally formed (click here) as a subtropical storm off the coast of the Carolinas late Thursday night.
Early Saturday morning, the National Hurricane Center said that Ana had made a complete transition from a subtropical storm to a full tropical storm. This was based on the fact that shower and thunderstorm activity was more collocated with the center of circulation, which is a characteristic of tropical storms.
For the latest forecast details on the storm, see our new story on Tropical Storm Ana at this link....

The Huffington Post has an article on elephants. A zoo needs to be sure the animals they house are suitable and benefit from their habitat.

We are entering the "Age of Benevolence." It is the next stop on the train called "Future USA."

March 5 was a good day for elephants. (click here) Not the elephants roaming free in their natural habitat -- for those elephants every day is a good day. I am referring to 43 Asian elephants that Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus keeps in chains and tortures with bullhooks (long poles with sharp hooks on the end) in order for them to do tricks in the circus for us humans and our kiddies. Families have attended Ringling Brothers three touring circuses with their annual 1,000 shows to witness elephants doing completely unnatural acts on command under a colourful circus tent for decades. But these cruel acts will be a thing of the past starting in 2018 as announced by Feld Entertainment in the New York Times.

It's about time, since it was 1870 when the circus started abusing elephants. For 35 of these years multiple animal rights groups protested this cruelty and provided the public with undercover footage of Ringling Brothers abusing baby elephants.... 

Performance animals are not where the future lies. I didn't define it, the younger generations are setting the standard. They are heroes, greater than Captain America with the Avengers. The young generation in the USA sees themselves as a member of a world protected from pain and suffering. It is interesting.

When it comes to zoos, simple spectacles of flesh and bones won't receive a high rating to the purpose of the zoo. The giraffe spots might be odd and interesting to the eye, but, what is that animal doing at a zoo and are they content welcoming the zoo as a home. 

This generation is more sensitive to the 'real world.' They are exposed to a world of hurt over the internet and they understand their own well being and ask why isn't that the reality of all others. Their world of concern and moral content includes the animals in their personal sphere including zoos.

We already know the zoos are not a place where large and/or predatory animals are happy on display. Their need for space and love of freedom with members of a herd or pride they call family is their deepest understanding of their world. When those components are eliminated for spectators and caregivers they aren't necessarily happy no matter their birth in the same facility.  

So the generation of benevolence and conscience will seek information and experience with animals. But, they won't be proud of a zoo that contains animals unhappy seeking avoidance of the human's definition of their life. 

Zoos currently have some magnificent animals and to the end of saving the species they are serving a purpose. But, to make a zoo the destination of a species is not acceptable and the moral content of their values want to know habitat is being protected and the species can be found in their native home.

Developing a local economy can start with a zoo. The economy will take care of itself once the center focus is achieved. I think this is genius.

May 8, 2015

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU)-- Petting zoos, (click here) carnival rides, and concessions, some of the many attractions that were once a part of Myrick Hixion Park in La Crosse.
Nearly 10 years ago the zoo was shut down due to funding reasons. Now, Dawn Potaracke, along with 6,000 other community members are trying to bring back the zoo they once loved.
In April, Potaracke started a Facebook and go fund me page to start raising funds. In that time, the page has received nearly $1,000.
“Right now, as a group, we are trying to get community support. Once we have a firm idea of what we'd like to see happen with Myrick Park, then we can make an official proposal to the city,” says Potaracke.
Potaracke says she hopes to $50,000 from the fundraising pages to get the project started....

Who took the animals from the zoo? I mean, really now.

May 8, 2015

Baby animals (click here) were stolen from the Special Memories Zoo in Greenville, Wis.
A five month baby kangaroo and 4 baby goats were stolen from the zoo, according to the Outgamie County Sheriff's Department.
"A baby kangaroo (a joey) needs to stay with their mother for the first year of life," said the post on the Outgamie County Sheriff's Department.
The zoo reopened on May 7.
If anyone has any information that could assist in solving this incident, they are being urged to contact the Outgamie County Sheriff's Department at 920-832-5000.
The zoo opened to the public in 2000. The animals go during the winter to the owner's homestead....

People with too much time on their hands. They live in an alterante universe.

This is a sex offender map as of July 12, 2012 (click here).

Parents for Megan's Law (click here) 

Some states have made progress. The "Megan's Law" page shows the states and their history from 2005 through 2015. California actually has reduced the number of registered offenders list. Some states like Alaska have a chronic population and other states such as Alabama have more than doubled their list of registered offenders.

This is California. 

ATTENTION: Beginning January 1, 2013, (click here) the Department of Justice is required by law to post static risk assessment scores for sex offender registrants who are eligible to be scored (Penal Code § 290.03-290.09). For information relating to risk assessments, eligibility, and scoring, please visit the State Authorized Risk Assessment Tool for Sex Offenders (SARATSO) Web site at www.saratso.org

It is typical of California to lead the country in approaching reform measures.

July 7. 2014 
By Tara Siler

...The state board that oversees (click here) the registry believes it’s time to overhaul the registry to make it smaller and easier to spot those at high risk of reoffending.
“K” — as he wants to be identified — is a case in point. He was added to the registry last year when he was released from prison. In 2009, he was convicted of multiple felony charges, including lewd and lascivious conduct.
While K claims the touching was consensual, the woman said it wasn’t. In any case, the woman was developmentally disabled and K was her caregiver.
“The bottom line,” K told me, “is I believe in law, and if I made a mistake I’ll pay for it, which I did.”...

This status when it comes to people such as this couple is rather inappropriate. They made a mistake by embarking on intercourse in public. It takes a lot of ignorance to lack appreciation for privacy in such circumstances. I do not believe a first offense when the other person is an adult and the sex was consensual belongs on a sex offender's list. It probably became an issue because the act was witnessed by a 12 year old. The twelve year old was not approached or solicited to witness the actions of these two adults, it happened by chance.  

There are many states that have more than doubled their sex offender list in ten years. It is time to look at this again. There is something wrong when over reach makes the list become less valuable than it should. 

The rule of thumb for pedophiles is that it is a sexual orientation that lasts a lifetime. The actions of this couple doesn't fit anywhere in that category. I would think repeated offenses would require listing an adult with such compulsions. But, this is an inappropriate designation for this couple.

There are nude beaches in the USA. I just thought I'd make that observation.

I tell you what. The Arizona 5000 should respond to the exercises. The end result might benefit the country. Bring the cows, too.

May 8, 2015

By J.D. Crowe

Obama's secret Texas (click here) takeover plan has run into serious trouble. Martial law has no chance against Chuck Norris.

Jade Helm 15, the Pentagon special forces "training exercise" in Texas and other Southwestern states, has been sniffed out by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who called in the Texas State Guard to keep an eye on the federal government's obvious scheme to take away people's guns, grits and young 'uns.

Beware, feds. Y'all saw what happened last week when those ISIS-flavored terrorists went cartoonist-hunting at that Prophet Muhammad art show in Garland, right? Bang. Bang. Don't mess with Texas....

Simpson was watched by the FBI and the FBI made it known there could be problems in Garland, Texas.

The coverage of the Garland incident isn't correct. The discussions regarding this issue is put into the context as if the attack on the meeting was planned for an extended period of time as if the meeting was a regular function of the government. That isn't the case. This event BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE two young jihadists. They were jihadists long before the wackos in Garland decided having a civil war was a great idea.

PHOENIX -- There are now reasons to believe (click here) that when Nadir Soofi and Elton Simpson headed to Dallas with an intent to kill, one of them was already a target of an open investigation.
According to the New York Times, the F.B.I. and police in Phoenix opened a new investigation into Elton Simpson last year after he began posting comments on social media supportive of ISIS. Simpson had already served three years probation for lying to the FBI in a case dating back to 2007 that initially alleged he attempted to join an international terrorist organization....

Look, there are people in Texas convinced the USA military is planning a practice to invade the USA under Marshall Law. And there are people equating the incident in Texas to that of a terrorist cell planning to destroy the USA from the inside. That is crazy. It is as crazy as the idea the USA military is practicing to take control of the streets of the USA.

There were two men that came to the meeting with full intention of killing everyone at the meeting. There was not a plane crashing to the ground or tall buildings collapsing that will bring the financial markets to it's knees. The righties in Texas live with inflammatory rhetoric on the tip of their tongue.

Did anyone pay attention to the fact Simpson was under the radar of the FBI and Garland authorities were told of the possibility. The FBI was following Simpson as a person of interest. What about this says the country was unaware of a terrorist able to kill? 

The inflammatory rhetoric is nonsense and it serves only one purpose; politics. There is so much inflammatory rhetoric about this with the political right wing Jeb Bush assigned "W" as an adviser. That should tell the rest of the country something. The political right wing lives in it's own world and it is not based in reality.

Jeb Bush just opened the door to every other Republican candidate. This is "W"'s Third Term.

Jeb: George W. Bush My Closest Adviser On Israel

 May 7, 2015

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) (click here) named his brother, former President George W. Bush, as his closest counselor on U.S.-Israel policy, according to The Washington Post.
“If you want to know who I listen to for advice, it’s him,” Bush said at an event hosted by Republican donor Paul Singer.

Jeb Bush is exploring a run for the White House and is expected to enter the race this summer. A spokesman said Bush’s comment at the event was in line with his previous statements.

“Governor Bush has said before that his brother is the greatest ally to Israel in presidential history, he admires his stalwart support for our ally, and that is in line with his commitment to standing with Israel in the face of great threats to their security and our own,” Jeb Bush spokesman Tim Miller told the Post.
Some observers have questioned whether Bush’s famous family could hurt his chances in the presidential race, given that his brother’s administration was deeply unpopular upon leaving office....

This is a huge mistake. It just dissolved any idea Jeb is his own man. There is no difference in his advisers or potential cabinet. This is the Bush dynasty all over again. George cancelled the ABM Treaty and replaced it with a 3 page document. Jeb's run is over.

The fact of the matter is the Bush dynasty is convinced they have the answers for all foreign affairs. They don't. There can't be tolerance of the USA's military deployment as it existed under "W." The USA is in terrible condition due to the Iraq War. Families have been destroyed because of the suicide rate with veterans. Mother's Day is coming and the only solace many of them have is to visit their son's grave. The troops made it home, but, they didn't continue to live a life promised by their own actions in the wars they fought. They were trapped in a world separate from others. They were trapped in the nightmare of PTSD. No way. This is not going to happen again.

I heard something today and I don't recall the person stating it, but, with all the Veterans that have returned from the Middle East; their disability benefits, their medical needs and the support they need to continue to move forward in their lives is currently tabulated at $1 Trillion. These are young men and women. We all hope their longevity will be as long as every average American and even beyond. Their disability is going to be expensive to the USA. This is not to say people should be jaded to their disability and begrudging of their support to continue their lives, they are our soldiers and did what was asked of them. We owe them a historic measure to provide for their futures. But, to do this all over again would be foolish and dishonors their wounds and their families sacrifice.

There is no way "W" has anything to offer to any policy of Israel or not. 

Do the dynamics of income inequality apply to the US miltiary?

It is a topic in "The Military Times" that concerns soldiers in support of a family.

The career military have to plan for retirement. but, do they settle for a life that is better or worse than the Average American in retirement?

Perhaps the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs should carry this message to President Obama.


COL Charles Williams, (click here) Waynesville, MO

It is better than is was 10-15 years ago, but we still have a ways to go.

Pay is based on level of responsibility, not necessarily the workload, or effort level.

That said, I find it hard to swallow that a CSM retiring at 30 years is so vastly differently than a COL retiring at 30. That is borderline appalling.

Our new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is a Marine. I think that is interesting and this topic along with military base security hits at the reality of the Marines.

Marines are the first to respond to the call for war by the USA. They are the first on the ground with personnel prepared to turn the raw circumstances into a path forward for the USA Army.

The Marines also have bases such as Guantánamo Bay and nine bases in Afghanistan with five of those bases in Helmand Province. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. (click here) knows all to well the challenge of being a soldier in the USA military. He understands the hardships and the rewards. Does he recognize the sacrifice these men and women make every day in the defense of the USA and are they compensated correctly?

The average American benefits from the sacrifices of these people. How does that balance in salary compensation and retirement?

Professional football may have to reassess it's regulations considering the level of hardship more and more of it's players may suffering.

I wonder if the American's with Disabilities Act applies to the NFL.

By Phil Helsel

New England Patriots (click here) quarterback Tom Brady said the scandal surrounding his underinflated footballs hasn't taken anything away from the team's Super Bowl win.

"Absolutely not," Brady told a cheering crowd at Salem State University in Massachusetts, when asked by sportscaster Jim Gray — at a speaking engagement that was scheduled months before Wednesday's damning report came out.

The Quarterback, Tom Brady may have a case for his need in a softer football to carry out his job.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (click here) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. The ADA also establishes requirements for telecommunications relay services....

The reality of disabilities within professional football is so pervasive it may be the legal defense for such problems could be applied from the ADA.

At the age of 37 years old, Quarterback Brady may be at the pinnacle of his career but requires modification for his job description. Arthritis at such an early age could indicate the damaging impact of the profession.

The income alone that players earn indicate they need to define the modifications the NFL has to maintain in an acceptable standard to the sports fans. It appears Quarterback Brady has found an answer for those suffering from chronic injuries without demanding a "Nerf Ball" (click here) which would inhibit the distance throwing required by receivers and their demand for setting records within their chosen profession.

The NFL employed an investigation to the cheating of the Patriots. It's executive standard, if based in scientific findings, requires action against what is called 'cheating.' The investigation has to be upheld. If the Patriots owner can find fault with the investigation it needs to register an objection through established standards. 

Does anyone expect the fans and other teams to believe Tom Brady didn't know the professional's football he held in his hands wasn't made soft for his job? Seriously, now. Tom Brady didn't recognize the softer inflation of the game football? How insulting is the Patriots going to get to the intelligence of everyone else watching this melodrama? The reason Tom Brady resorted to in such an infraction in order to carry out his job is as valid as the infraction itself. I doubt he would put so much at risk if he was able to achieve his performance within the rules.

The First Amendment is not a toy. Please think this through.

While some consider their rights as miniscule to the rest of their life. The rest of their life would not be facilitated without the US Constitution. The First Amendment is an incredible statement of belief of democracy in the USA. Don't take it for granted and abuse the society in which one lives.

Pamela Geller is yelling fire in a theater. She uses no discretion in balancing danger with life. She endangered every life involved with the incident.

THE USA'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH is intact. No one stops the KKK or Black Lives Matter from marching in the USA. 

Geller doesn't have a case against the country. She and her organization should receive a court summons for the lives they put in the line of fire. Police are not toys or simply considered SOP for extremists. 

Schenck v USA (click here)

Term: 1901 - 1939

1918

Location: Socialist Headquarters

Facts of the Case 

During World War I, Schenck mailed circulars to draftees. The circulars suggested that the draft was a monstrous wrong motivated by the capitalist system. The circulars urged "Do not submit to intimidation" but advised only peaceful action such as petitioning to repeal the Conscription Act. Schenck was charged with conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act by attempting to cause insubordination in the military and to obstruct recruitment.

Question 

Are Schenck's actions (words, expression) protected by the free speech clause of the First Amendment?

Conclusion 

Decision: 9 votes for United States, 0 vote(s) against Legal provision: 1917 Espionage Act; US Const Amend 1

Holmes, speaking for a unanimous Court, concluded that Schenck is not protected in this situation. The character of every act depends on the circumstances. "The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent." During wartime, utterances tolerable in peacetime can be punished.

The farming produce needs to be tested for contaminants.

Natural gas pipeline system leaks on agricultural land northeast of Calgary, Alberta, federal regulator says. File Photo by: UPI Photo/Mark Cowan.

May 6 2015
By Daniel J. Gaeber

..."Operations (click here) on the pipeline were suspended immediately and the incident contained," the NEB said in a statement. "Company cleanup operations began immediately."
The regulator said an undetermined amount of product was released on agricultural land northeast of Calgary.
There was no statement on the incident from TransCanada or provincial regulators. An emergency response system set up by the Alberta government show no active alerts.

The leak comes less than a week after TransCanada joined pipeline companies Enbridge and Kinder Morgan in committing a combined $600,000 to fund laboratory research and field trials to find ways to discover crude oil or other hydrocarbon leaks. Technologies under consideration include infrared camera and other detection systems that are suitable for mounting on light aircraft or helicopters. ... 

How long have these companies been pumping oil and gas out of the ground and only now are they convinced they need to be able to detect pipeline leaks before the leak contaminates large amounts of land and water.

It is completely obvious the companies involved are negligent to the public well being and safety. 

Don't light a match anywhere near the pond and plants.

...Methane is extremely flammable (click here) and can explode at concentrations between 5% (lower explosive limit) and 15% (upper explosive limit). These concentrations are much lower than the concentrations at which asphyxiant risk is significant. Reportedly, the most violent methane explosions occur at concentrations of about 9%; coal mines are hence kept well ventilated (pumped with fresh air) to maintain methane levels at or below 1%....

The petroleum industry has done nothing to contain the radioactive waste which is everywhere. The area of the tar sands in Canada would first have to be tested for any radioactivity. There is every reason to believe there is significant issues in regard to dumping and leaking such hazards. Trans Canada not only harvests oil sands for an extraction process, the lands left as an open pit also are drilled into by fracking for natural gas extraction. 

May 5, 2014
By Tara Lohan

...“Radionuclides (click here) in these wastes are primarily radium-226, radium-228, and radon gas,” reports the Environmental Protection Agency. “The radon is released to the atmosphere, while the produced water and mud containing radium are placed in ponds or pits for evaporation, reuse, or recovery.”

As this article notes, fracking has been used for a long time but never on the scale that exists today. The reason Dr. Avner Vengosh brought this to the attention of "Bloomberg News" is because the toxins from fracking was tolerated well by the environment and human beings as dangers are 'dose related.' In a small operation the toxins would be far less when it entered the environment outside the well. The DOSES in the early days of fracking was minimal to the overall environment. 

Today, the DOSES are thousands of times higher by well drilled near urban settings. The petroleum industry never bothered to conduct research regarding hazards and dangers when they launched their drilling spree. The petroleum industry's model for drilling only reacts to problems after the drilling has occurred. The industry believes the less people and the government know about potential toxins and dose related exposure the better off the industry is.

The fact that drilling for oil or gas increases radiation is not news. Avner Vengosh, a professor of geochemistry at Duke University told Bloomberg News that we’ve know that since the 1970s, but the pace and intensity of drilling now, combined with the huge amount of wastewater, is taking the issue to a new level of concern. “We are actually building up a legacy of radioactivity in hundreds of points where people have had leaks or spills around the country,” he said....

Netanyahu nearly wasn't Prime Minister again.

May 6, 2015
By Jodi Rodoren

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (click here) of Israel barely met the legal deadline to form a new government on Wednesday night and will start his fourth term with the slimmest of parliamentary majorities, made up of right-leaning and religious parties.

Mr. Netanyahu and his Likud Party celebrated a surprisingly strong victory in the March 17 elections after a divisive campaign, but ended up scrambling to scrape together 61 of Parliament’s 120 members into a coalition — and hold on to his premiership. He was forced to make major concessions to the more conservative Jewish Home party, and emerged weakened to lead a government that Israeli experts said was unlikely to last long or do much....

The video by some of the storm chasers reveals and enormous feeder system from the air next to the ground. This is the SECOND time such phenomena was noted. The tornadoes are changing. The size of the storms includes large radius from the central system.

The radius on the ground looks to be at least a half mile from the funnel. The storm chasers cannot allow themselves to be to close to the funnel cloud. They have been lucky this year so far.

There are significant winds over Hawaii driving high surf advisory.









May 7, 2015
0230.19z
UNISYS Goes West Water Vapor Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

There is high winds in Alaska as well. It is under a vortex. The winds are expected to sustain until Friday. (click here)

There is a tape to the death of Mathew Ajibade. What goes on in this country? Never in my wildest imagination.

May 6, 2015

Georgia sheriff said he plans (click here) to discipline more police officers and has changed policies in response to the death of a man who was handcuffed to a controversial restraint chair after he allegedly struck his girlfriend and broke a deputy's nose during a bipolar episode. 

"The loss of a young life is a tragedy and the sheriff's office is always deeply concerned when someone dies in custody. That is especially true in this case," Chatham County Sheriff Al St. Lawrence said in a statement Wednesday. 

Mathew Ajibade, 22, was found dead in an isolation cell in January. His family — who tapped high-pofile lawyer Mark O'Mara to represent them — claims police used a taser on him while he was restrained in the chair and then left him unattended....

Possible tornado power flashes (click here)

POSTED: 05:34 PM PDT May 06, 2015 

Link:  http://www.kesq.com/news/possible-tornado-power-flashes/32853620

Norman, Oklahoma 

The system is so large it is difficult to discern the edges of the tornado. The power flashes in Norman are occurring at opposite ends of the city. There is significant devastation. The power flashes are not in any pattern or in a single areas of the city.

It looks as though the diameter of the funnel cloud is the length of the city. 

Norman is going to need rapid response from surrounding cities and possibly neighboring states. I hope I am wrong. It doesn't look good. 

This is from Kansas (click here).

 
7:45 PM Update: 

**A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES UNTIL 9PM: CLAY, CLOUD, DICKINSON, JEWELL, MCPHERSON, MITCHELL, OTTAWA, REPUBLIC, SALINE, AND WASHINGTON.**

Storms are have been ongoing in north-central Kansas since about 3pm with several confirmed tornadoes. As these storms continue to slowly push east severe weather would still be possible with all modes possible: hail, wind, tornadoes. Look for a watch to be issued for the rest of eastern Kansas before the current watch expires at 9pm.

This was posted at 7:45 pm and the severe weather has been on going from 3PM.


 The wind field stretches west from the Mississippi. (click here)

May 6, 2015
2030.18z
UNISYS North and West Hemisphere Water Vapor Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

This was the system at 3:00 PM. This system started to mount it's current result a couple of days ago. 

The system moving offshore is carrying some significant winds as well.

 

Thank you, Alberta, Canada. I have a huge smile on my face.

May 5, 2015
By Joel Connelly

A hard-to-believe political earthquake (click here) shook the heartland of Canada’s oil industry on Tuesday night.
The “Texas of Canada,” oil-producing Alberta, elected a new provincial government of the socialist-leaning New Democratic Party in a landslide.  The party captured about 53 seats in the 87-member Alberta Legislature; its highest previous total was 16....

The corruption of oil is finally gone from Canada. The new leadership of Alberta should make an expediant visit to the Oval Office of the USA in Washington, DC to discuss how tourism, especially by train and other methods of economy can be solidified to support this incredible and welcome change to Canada and North American. 

What Canadian could live with the deaths caused by Trans-Canada and oil producers of North Dakota that devastated so many people. The oil trains are a menace and the pipelines are leaking and no one cares. The petroleum industry is a blight on this planet and now North America can have a slight bit more happier heart. 

April 1, 2015
By Alan Woods
 
MONTREAL— The families of the dozens of people killed (click here) in the 2013 Lac-Mégantic train crash have received a financial proposal that would see them split nearly $80 million to compensate for the death of their loved ones.
 

The release of the legal and financial plan by the firm overseeing the bankruptcy of the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic railway signals that the ordeal is nearing an end nearly two years after the train derailment and explosion that killed 47 people in the eastern Quebec town.

The settlement proposal, which also includes suggested payouts for those who lost property, income or psychological peace in the disaster, is the result of months of legal negotiations that may still be subject to last-minute demands and changes, according to one lawyer representing the victims’ families. A final settlement plan will likely be put to a vote later this month before it can be certified by the judge who is overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings.

The plan that was made public Wednesday uses a complex points system — based on age, income and whether the person killed left behind children or a spouse — to determine the financial damages that can be drawn from each death....

The immorality of the ruthlessness of the industry is just amazing. Life means nothing to them. Alberta will find eons of Americans that will look forward to the healing of the oil sands. Much of it is devastated and virtually impossible to restore, but, I know some people that will receive this change in Canada and are almost magicians when the natural is assaulted in that manner. There are a growing species of fish in Canada entering into threatened and endangered status. It will work. We'll make it work. It has to work.

Congratulations, Alberta. 

USDA... bulletin at 05/06/2015

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2015 (click here) - The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in additional 11 flocks in Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Minnesota.   No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.  CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.

USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed HPAI H5N2 in the following counties and states:

The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world.  As part of the existing USDA avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners as well as industry are responding quickly and decisively to these outbreaks by following these five basic steps: 1) Quarantine – restricting movement of poultry and poultry-moving equipment into and out of the control area; 2) Eradicate - humanely...

Example of farmers in need of help by the federal government with their losses. There is no human exposure by the USDA with these outbreaks.

Wright County, Iowa (May 5, 2015)

1.03 million chickens

Cherokee County, Iowa (May 5, 2015)

100,000 turkeys 
2^nd detection in this county...

I know these farmers have been a reliable source of these animals, but, it is fairly obvious when they are decontaminating they are getting it exactly right. I know the USDA is capable of helping in a way that it will end these infection rates.

The USDA has to better supervise the decontamination at these farms. Thank you.

The citizens in democracy don't want TPP.

I believe a TPPA would pose a barrier to our City Councils (click here)
We recently elected a new Auckland Council that wants to build resilient communities across the region, support local business and retain our public assets. I believe a TPPA would pose a barrier to those three laudable roles and give foreign investors too much power in New Zealand.”

Cathy Casey  

Auckland Councillo

 

This is New Zealand. The people of New Zealand are maximizing their local economies no different than the USA. They are resolved to have resilient communities because Wall Street isn't. 

Americans assume our unions are the only barrier to the TPP. It isn't American unions. The people from other democracies are standing up to their governments to oppose it. 

Americans are not alone in this.

I guarantee if all the leaders of the countries within TPP held a news conference that would clearly spell out the jobs and assets their countries would benefit from with TPP, they would never know one fact. The leaders of these countries are pandering to Wall Street and have no clue what is going to happen within their borders once the contract was signed.

Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Either we hold our leaders responsible for real facts and figures or the populations of our countries will be the ones that are nowhere to hide and nowhere to run.