Maryland Seeks Animal Waste-to-Energy Proposals

The state of Maryland is looking to buy electricity generated from animal waste.

Poultry litter or livestock manure are the types of waste the state is hoping will be used in the Clean Bay Power project. Those interested in providing animal-waste energy must be able to generate up to 10 megawatts, be directly connected to the regional electricity grid and start supplying power to the state by Dec. 31, 2015.

Gov. Martin O'Malley said the project will promote the use of renewable energy, reduce the amount of agricultural pollution that reaches the Chesapeake Bay, and encourage job creation. The state's goal is to have 20 percent of energy come from renewable sources by 2022.

The deadline for proposals is Nov. 30.

35 Suspected Bloods Gang Members Indicted in Maryland

The federal indictment of 35 alleged members of a Maryland offshoot of the California Bloods gang will have a big impact on the streets of Maryland communities, police chief from across the state said.

The indictment announced Thursday alleges that since 2005 the South Side Brims gang has operated in counties from western Maryland to the lower Eastern Shore, and members were involved in drug trafficking, home-invasion robberies, witness intimidation, a jail break, and several shootings, including one killing.

An affidavit supporting search warrants executed in March alleges that the gang's leader was recruited by a Bloods gang member from Compton, Calif., who was incarcerated in Maryland.

Investigators turned up gang rosters and handbooks; intercepted letters discussing gang business; and found websites containing gang messages, photos and videos, prosecutors said.

Drug Raid Leads to Cockfighting Ring Discovery

Four men and two women were arrested at a home just north of Lancaster Wednesday morning following a raid in which police found an estimated $1 million worth of methamphetamine and products used to manufacture the drug on the property.

Lancaster deputies obtained a warrant to search for narcotics. When they raided the property, they found something more jarring-- approximately 100 roosters in what appeared to be a cockfighting operation.

The home, which was located on the 46200 block of 30th Street East, was thought to be a possible venue for narcotics sales, according to Deputy Michael Rust of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

Part of the 5-acre ranch "was cordoned off with garage doors, and behind the doors were where roosters were living," said Rust.

Deputies uncovered dozens of cages, performance enhancing vitamins, steroids, and sparring muffs – leather covered balls strapped onto birds’ legs for training – leading them to believe they uncovered a cockfighting operation.

They also found 5 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunks of two cars being stored on the property, as well as other items related to the manufacture and sale of the drug.

Rust said they found 15 people living on the property, seven of whom were kids ages 4-17. The others were adults.

"The ranch had buildings with nothing more than just converted chicken coops." said Rust. "Based on the overall living conditions, coupled with the illegal activity, the kids were all taken into protective custody by children’s services."

Rust did not know exactly what the suspects were charged with, but said the claims were related to narcotic sales and child endangerment.

Rust said what happens to the birds is up to animal control.

"It’s my understanding they will take the birds and do a blood test to see if they have steroids in their system. I think the birds they find [with steroids], they’ll destroy them. The birds who weren’t injected, I’m not sure what they’ll do with them."

 

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Memorials Continue At Seal Beach Salon

The outpouring of grief surrounding the Salon Meritage massacre has now contributed to a shrine-like scene just outside the business.

Although police had not officially identified the victims Thursday afternoon, word had spread that Salon Meritage owner Randy Fannin was among the dead.

"He was just a super guy," said a tearful Debbie Johnson. "He made everybody feel like you were his best friend."

Johnson said she knew Randy Fannin for 35 years. Her tribute was written in chalk outside the salon on the sidewalk, just a few feet from where he worked.

"He always had this door open right here, because his station was right here," said Johnson, pointing to the familiar place.

Most mourners said their grief was still too fresh to talk about openly.

Salon customer Ana Cholo was still in shock, although she was one of the lucky ones. She had learned earlier that her stylist survived.

"She's alive," said Cholo. "I'm grateful for that, very grateful."

The tragedy touched hundreds of customers and all the families. Debbie Johnson said it seems as if she’s lost a member of her family.

"It was a bright spot in my day every time I came to have my hair done," she said.

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Californians Awarded for Implementing Healthy Food Options in Schools

Four Southern Californians were among six public school employees to receive an award Thursday for encouraging healthy eating habits at their respective schools.

The California Endowment, a private foundation that works to promote health improvements for California’s underserved, awarded the first six “Health Happens Heroes” awards as a part of National School Lunch Week.

“We're proud to give Health Happens Heroes awards to leaders who ‘walk the walk’ to improve health in our schools (and) neighborhoods,'' said Dr. Robert Ross, the foundation's chief executive officer. "These pioneers are embracing and defending new federal standards for healthier school meals and offering kids great-tasting healthy food that they can't wait to eat."

Dennis Barrett, director of Food Nutrition Services in the Los Angeles Unified School District, was awarded for his work in the highly debated removal of flavored milk from the nation’s second largest school district.

Using local and organic produce, awardee Gary Petill instated a salad bar at San Diego Unified School District campuses. The Nutrition Services director also incorporated more fresh fruits and vegetables into the district’s meal plan.

Food Services Director Robert Schram’s focus on providing comprehensive breakfast options at Clovis Unified School District landed him a spot among the awardees.

“Children who increase their school breakfast participation as a result of a school breakfast program offered free to all students show improvements in math scores, attendance, punctuality, depression, anxiety, and hyperactivity,” reads a research document by the Food Research and Action Center.

Nutrition Director Rodney Taylor of Riverside Unified School District was awarded for his implementation of the Farm to School program. Under the program, students can choose a farmers market salad bar over hot school lunch.

Awardees received a certificate and $500 for their choice health-focused charity. More Health Happens Heroes will be awarded throughout the year.

Promotion of healthy eating habits among young children increased after First Lady Michelle Obama launched her Let’s Move! campaign in February to battle child obesity nationwide.

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Governor Defends the DREAM Act

Of the bills signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown, none is more controversial than the DREAM Act. Since signing it, the governor has faced relentless criticism.

The bill mandates that beginning in 2013, undocumented students are eligible to receive state financial aid to attend California community colleges and universities.

During a question and answer session at the "State of the State" conference Thursday, sponsored by the Milken Institute, Governor Brown defended his decision, saying it will ultimately benefit the state's economy.

"Having a top kid become a college scientist or professor is better than sweeping floors, " said Governor Brown. "When we make a scholarship available to somebody who can create the next iPad, or invent the next vehicle, or the next energy system, or become the next great teacher -- that's a good thing. Anybody who says ignorance is to be preferred to education and intelligence, I have to say I can't go along with that."

Critics of the DREAM Act argue that it prioritizes undocumented students over the state economy and debt crisis. They say the measure comes just as the governor is asking for tax hikes to bolster state revenues.

Republican Tim Donnelly, R-Hesperia, has vowed to repeal the measure by placing the issue before voters in the form of a ballot measure.

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Former NBC Chicago Executive Dies

Ed Planer, who served as news director at NBC Chicago during the 1970s, died Saturday in Atlanta at the age of 82.

The New York native began his career at WDSU-TV in New Orleans two decades before making the move to Chicago in 1972.

During his four years at WMAQ, he hired Jane Pauley, Greg Gumbel and Pat O'Brien. All went on to become well-known television personalities.

Planer left the station in 1976 and headed to New York, where he worked as a producer for NBC's TODAY program before taking on a roles as an executive vice president and later as the head of all European news-gathering operations.

He left the network in 1988, returning to Chicago to work in journalism roles at Northwestern University and Columbia College.

The same year he wrote a novel, "Shattered Images," which was based on television news.

Planer died at a hospice center in Atlanta. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marilyn Levy Planer; as well as three children and four grandchildren.

Private funeral services were held Monday.