Baltimore, MD - Mar. 16, 2024 - A federal judge has agreed to let former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh off supervised probation a year early.
Pugh was released from federal prison back in January 2022 after being sentenced to three years behind bars for wire fraud conspiracy and tax evasion, stemming from the Healthy Holly book scandal.
Her sentence ended up being shortened by a year, at which time she began serving 36 months of supervised probation.
Her conditions of release included $100 monthly payments in restitution.
Pugh owed a total of $411,948. So far she's paid $63,850, according to the office of probation.
Since being released from prison, Pugh has worked as a contracted liaison for Morgan State University's Center for Urban Violence Institute.
Between that incom...
Nathan Wade, who helped lead former President Trump’s criminal prosecution in Georgia, resigned on Friday after the judge called for him to do so over his romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D).
Judge Scott McAfee ruled the romance created an appearance of a conflict of interest, insisting that the entire district attorney’s office must be sidelined unless Wade leaves.
“I am offering my resignation in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public, and to move this case forward as quickly as possible,” Wade wrote.
With his departure, Trump’s election interference case can now move ahead, though a trial date has not yet been set.
Trump is charged alongside more than a dozen of his allies on racketeer...
US President Joe Biden on Friday backed remarks made by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer a day earlier, when he called for new elections in Israel and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"He made a good speech," Biden said in Oval Office when asked by reporters asked about Schumer's remarks, according to Reuters.
"He expressed serious concerns, shared not only by him but by many Americans," Biden continued, adding that his staff were notified about the speech in advance by Schumer.
Schumer caused a firestorm on Thursday when he said that Netanyahu "has lost his way." He further called the Prime Minister an "obstacle to peace."
“The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel," he said. "The Israeli people are being stifled right now by...
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 15, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Keith Sanders (Brooklyn) & Jennie Kraut (Baltimore) on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to Naomi & Mike Kraut
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Leader Schumer’s speech to the Senate yesterday, Thursday March 15th, was profoundly disappointing and concerning. While Leader Schumer claimed to speak on behalf of a silent majority of Jewish Americans, he did not speak for a great many of us.
Over many years, Senator Schumer has been a critical partner for the Orthodox Union in many of our efforts on behalf of our community and the people of Israel. We appreciate this.
Earlier in this crisis, on November 29, 2023, the senator gave a speech that we encouraged “every Jew and every American” to “read and absorb,” describing it as epic, thorough, thoughtful, educational, moving, and personal, but above all “plainly and simply a Jewish speech.” This week’s speech was also epic, bu...
Have you ever heard of an antipode? When I first heard that word (this past week) I thought it was referring to the phylum of invertebrate animals, such as insects, arachnids, and crustacean, which make up about 75% of all animals on Earth. I quickly learned that the fancy word for insects, etc. is arthropods, not antipodes. Similar sounding, I know, but not the same.
So, what exactly are antipodes? Because earth is shaped like a sphere, by definition every point on earth has an exact opposite side. Antipodes refer to the two parts of earth that are diametrically opposite each other.
In a stunt that arguably changed the course of history (not!), a man named Etienne Naude from Auckland, New Zealand, found a man online - named, Angel Sierra - from Spain to help arrange what is ...
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has a long and distinguished record of strongly supporting the security and welfare of the State of Israel and its citizens. Understanding the millennia-old plight and oppression of the Jewish people, his love and devotion toward Israel are intense and deeply personal. He feels the existential threat that Israel faces and the hate and viciousness that surround her. The pain of Israel, as experienced before and after October 7, is his own. And Israel’s desire for peace, too, is his own. Anyone who knows Senator Schumer, and who reads the words of his major address on Middle East peace, knows this to be true.
We are saddened, though, that important aspects of Senator Schumer’s address crossed a line. Indeed, it was the wrong message at the wr...
We conclude the Book of Shemos this Shabbos. It began describing the arrival of the Children of Israel to Egypt, going on to chronicle the story of our people. From slavery to freedom; from emancipation from human bondage to accepting the dominion of Heaven at Mount Sinai; from the joy of our betrothal to G-d to our betrayal at the Sin of the Golden Calf; from the despondence of failure to delight in the power of repentance and G-d's promise to reinstate His presence.
The last large segment is devoted to the restoration of that bond through our arduous efforts in constructing the Mishkan — an abode for the Divine Presence to dwell in our midst.
The details of our donations that were transformed into the exquisite vessels that are to serve in this residence, and the clothing of...
The IDF announced that it has uncovered and destroyed a 200-meter-long terror tunnel underneath a bell pepper field in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The tunnel was found near a residential complex in the Hamad neighborhood.
Inside the tunnel, IDF forces found weapons belonging to Hamas terrorists, including grenades, RPG missiles, explosives, rocket launchers, combat vests, and cameras.
The tunnel was destroyed by a Combat Engineering squad.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Friday that the Prime Minister has approved the plan of action for Rafah. The IDF is preparing for operational action and to evacuate the populace.
Regarding the hostages, the Prime Minister's Office says Hamas's demands are still preposterous. The Israeli delegation will leave for Doha after the Security Cabinet discusses Israel's stance.
Reuters reported earlier in the day that Hamas's proposal would see the release of women (including those Hamas defined as 'soldiers'), children, the elderly, and male hostages who are ill in exchange for between 700-1,000 Arab terrorists.
Hamas proposed that immediately after this stage a discussion would be started on a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and setting ...
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in five cities will start wearing body-worn cameras as they interact with the public under a new policy announced Wednesday.
Acting ICE Director Patrick J. Lechleitner said the agency has 1,600 body-worn cameras that will be furnished to agents and officers in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Buffalo and Detroit.
“This is also an important step to further build public trust and confidence in our dedicated and professional law enforcement officials,” Lechleitner said.
The move is part of efforts rolled out by President Biden in 2022 to require federal law enforcement officers who are out in the public to wear the cameras to increase transparency and trust in law enforcement.
ICE is made ...
A Georgia judge ruled Friday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) or the prosecutor she had a romantic relationship with must step aside before the office can continue its election interference case against former President Trump and his allies.
Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Willis’s once-romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade constituted an appearance of conflict of interest in the racketeering case, enabling the district attorney to still prosecute Trump if Wade departs.
“[T]he established record now highlights a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team — an appearance that must be removed through the State’s selection of one of...
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 14, 2024 - A disturbing incident unfolded this evening at approximately 5:30PM as an individual, believed to be a rabid anti-Semite, was caught on video attempting to damage signs expressing support for Israel. The incident took place and was caught on video on Smith Ave.
Local law enforcement was immediately alerted, and Baltimore Shomrim, kept a close watch on the perpetrator and pointed him out to police near Marnat & Sanzo where he just happens to live
As you will see in this video, this is the same individual who, back in November, in the same neighborhood, was found to be burning posters of the kidnapped hostages.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, as this individual poses ...
Back in the day, Hamantashen were much simpler. There were a few basic fillings, such as raspberry jam and poppy seed. Today it is much more complicated, as they can range from dairy caramel filled Hamantashen, to pulled beef stuffed Hamantashen. How does this affect the Halacha? Do they need special simanim? Let’s listen to Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Kashrus administrator at the cRc, and Executive Director of AKO, as he walks us through this complex sugya.
“He set up the courtyard all around the Mishkan and the altar, and he put up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard; and Moses completed the work.” (Exodus 40:33)
Over the last number of Parshios we have read of the collection and subsequent creation of the Mishkan. God asked for an earthly abode, a place where His beloved children could come to connect. And now, in this week’s Parsha, the last section of the book of Shemos, the work was complete. The Mishkan was brought to Moshe, the Divine Presence descended upon it, and the relationship between God and His nation was further cemented. Yet, the Torah adds a seemingly extraneous piece of information.
“When the cloud rose up from over the Mishkan...
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Thursday sought to clarify his remarks against the Israeli government which caused a firestorm.
“The US cannot dictate the outcome of an election. That is for the Israeli public to decide,” he wrote in a post on social media.
“As a democracy, Israel has the right to choose its own leaders. But the important thing is that Israelis are given a choice. There needs to be a fresh debate about the future,” he added.
Earlier, Schumer gave a speech in which he called for new elections to be held in Israel, saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has lost his way." He further called the Prime Minister an "obstacle to peace."
“The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel," he said. "The Is...
