Nearly 25 percent of women in the United States report that they have been physically assaulted by a partner during their lifetimes.

Federal Programs to protect women from violence are receiving historic funding. Senator Barbara Milkulski announced $435 Million in funding for the Department of Justice's Violence Against Women's office. It will support programs authorized through the violence Against Women Act.

Racial disparities in health care are grabbing the attention of some U.S. leaders. Recently all nine NAACP presidents of Maryland's eastern shore held a town hall meeting asking for an improvement in health care for African Americans. Now U.S. Representative Frank Kratovil is planning to meet with leaders to detail alarming health statistics and push for Healthcare Reform.

The meeting will be held on November 9, at the Chipman Cultural Center at 1:30PM.

The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983.

Right now, the jobless rate is 10.2 percent. Officials with the Delaware Department of Labor say they have seen a spike in residents coming into their office.

In Sussex County, the unemployment rate from September was 7.3 percent up from 4.6 percent a year ago. The manager of the Division of Employment and Training says they expect the number of people using their services to grow.

"You know this is a time when seasonal workers are coming off of their employment and therefore they're coming in to apply for their unemployment benefits, and then from unemployment they come over to us and we register them," said Renee Roberson, the Area Operations Manager of the Division of Employment and Training.

Once the unemployed register with the Division of Employment and Training they are assisted in their job search.
 

An Oak Orchard family is still haunted after an unwanted visitor continued to knock on the door trying to force his way into their home shortly after 12AM on Friday.

"I just continuously said, 'I don't know you. You're not coming in the house,'" said Robert Hackert, the homeowner.

Hackert, says the hooded masked man was asking for a person who didn't live in the house. He says the person wouldn't leave until he threatened to call the police.

"He pulled his mask down, and he was like, 'No need to call the cops, I'm leaving. I'm leaving.' I was looking out the window and I seen him back up off the porch like this. I seen him go like that and as soon as I seen the gun I said everybody down, and that's when we all hit the floor," said Hackert as he demonstrated the actions of the unwanted visitor.

Hackert says after his house was shot at multiple times he heard a vehicle skid off, but the unusual night didn't end there. Police say a little more than 15 minutes later more gun shots rang out in a neighborhood on River Road not even a mile away.

Then at 12:36AM, nearly 20 minutes after the first 911 call was made by Hackert, police say two suspects made their way to the Harris Teeter grocery store. There they say two people were robbed and one was shot in the hand and torso area.

Delaware State Police are currently investigation all three incidents to determine if they were related.

In the meantime, some nearby residents say they are in shock. "I lived here all my life and I really haven't, you don't have that much problems around here. It's just lately here I would say in the past year things have been getting like that. People are getting crazy," said Kenneth Hulmes, a resident who heard the gun shots near his home.

Police say the male victim that was shot at the Harris Teeter Grocery Store is expected to make a full recovery.

The suspects were seen driving a tan or gold minivan.

Police are investigating a gas station robbery in Milton. Police say just before 9PM on Thursday, a suspect entered the Shore Stop on Deep Branch Road.

Investigators say the suspect pulled out a knife and demanded money from the store clerk then fled with cash. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.

Wicomico County officials are putting safety first, even with their budget woes. The School System came to an agreement with the County Friday to keep crossing guards in place. The 13 positions were being paid for by the Sheriff's Department but now the Board of Education is taking on the $50,000 cost. But officials say it's a price worth paying to make sure students can get to and from school safely.

Some of the troops serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan will be receiving a special shipment this holiday season. Operation We Care is spending this weekend packing hundreds of boxes to send to the servicemen and women. The Eastern Shore Chapter of the Harley Owners Group has been taking donations for months, trying to ship at least 250 boxes in time for Christmas. But their community service efforts don't stop there.

"The Marine Corp League will have a donation box there so people can stop by and drop off any toys, new unwrapped toys for the toys for tots program that they do every year," said Operation We Care Director Jeff Merritt.

Toys can be dropped off at the Powellville Fire Department this Sunday. Plus, George Jackson will be there with his scrolls for the troops. It kicks off at 10AM.

The Community Foundation came together in Salisbury Friday to recognize volunteers who make a difference on the Eastern Shore. One of the highest honors is the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award. Salisbury Fire Department's own Deputy Chief Bill Gordy took home the award but says it's the other men and women who risk their lives everyday that deserve thanks. Gordy was chosen because he's volunteered his time one day a week for 35 years.

"I retired, thought I was out of it but 9/11 came about and I couldn't stay home, got back involved again and joined the Salisbury Fire Department," said Gordy during his acceptance speech.

The Foundation says Gordy gives both his time and his financial support to the community. The award for excellence for nonprofits was given to "Kids of Honor" another group that goes above and beyond on their own time.

The same day nine teens were arrested at Bennett High School for a reported fight, authorities say they stopped a potential shooting. Police say during the fight Thursday they got word that someone was planning on shooting at a school bus as a result of the incident. That afternoon, they say they found 18-year-old Damien Height with a handgun in the area mentioned.

They don't believe he is a student at the school. Height is now facing several charges.

The Country Farm Store in Salisbury was robbed Thursday night. Police say a man entered the store on Priscilla Street just after 10PM. He indicated to the store clerk that he had a handgun, but never showed it, and demanded money. He fled with the cash.

Anyone with information should call Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

First there was an online book price war, now it looks like an online DVD price war. Wal-Mart started by trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming releases. That led Amazon.com and Target to follow suit. That means you can get your hangs on new releases like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for under $10.

Wal-Mart currently posts the lowest prices, Friday morning lowering them to $9.98.

Harley Davidson is saluting active and retired U.S. military personnel this month. They have named November the first-ever "Military Appreciation Month." Officials are hosting a website where users can log-on and create an electronic postcard and a message of gratitude to servicemen and women.

For a link, click on 47 Weblinks.

Among the jobless, officials say nearly twice as many Veterans are out of work than other Americans. The Labor Department says about 185,000 veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are unemployed. Plus they say for those who can find work, starting pay is as much as $10,000 a year lower than it would be had they never served.

The job crisis is making many people rethink their careers. Now a record number are heading back to school to train for something completely different.

Beverly Harris is heading back to school. She says, "I started in September. I'm going from hotel management to radiology."

When many Americans are faced with taking less senior positions for lower pay and fewer hours, retraining for a new job may seem like a better option. Experts say you can expect to see higher age groups on several college campuses. That also means more competition in the job market for graduating students.

A Maryland man is facing drug trafficking charges in Georgetown, Delaware. Police say they pulled over Juan Vargas for a traffic stop. That's when they reportedly found several grams of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and clonazepam pills. They also found a 12-gauge shot gun.

He is facing multiple trafficking charges and is being held in lieu of bond.

Two armed robbery suspects are on the loose in Delaware. State Police say two men robbed the Universal Food Mart in Harrington just after 3AM Friday. The pair, armed with a gun, demanded money from a store clerk. They also stole several cartons of cigarettes before fleeing.

No one was injured. If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - A senior U.S. official in Washington isn't ruling out the possibility that the alleged Fort Hood shooter had ties to radical groups, but isn't saying whether there's evidence to back it up.
Officials now say a 13th person has died in Thursday's rampage
in Texas and 30 were wounded. Authorities at first thought one of the dead was the shooter, accounting for a delay in identifying him.
As military officials try to piece together what may have pushed Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan to turn on his comrades, the wounded suspect is on a ventilator, unconscious and under guard in a hospital.
Law enforcement officials say Hasan came to their attention at least six months ago, because of Internet postings about suicide bombings and other threats. It's not yet certain he authored the posts.
Officials are also not ruling out the possibility that some of
the casualties may have been victims of "friendly fire."
 

      Wicomico County's free H1N1 vaccination clinic is expanding their priority group.
      Any individual age 6 months to 24 years old can now get the shot or nasal spray.
      Pregnant women and people who live or care for an infant under 6 months old are also eligible.
      The clinic will be tomorrow at the William C. Fritz building in Salisbury.
      To schedule an appointment, call 410-543-6943.
      The Caroline County 4-H Park has announced their free clinic tomorrow has been cancelled.
       They have run out of vaccines, but will set a new clinic date when they get more vaccines.

    A Fruitland man has pleaded guilty to sex offenses involving minors.
    Russell Burnett pleaded guilty to three counts of 3rd Degree Sex Offenses involving three minors.
    Prosecutors says he had the children take part in the production of sexual photos back in June of 2005.
    Burnett faces a maximum of 30 years.
    He will be sentenced on November 19th.

     Salisbury Police say the Country Farm Store on Priscilla Street has been robbed.
      A single suspect fled the area on foot, nobody was injured.
     If you have any information call Salisbury Police at 410-749-5151.