Retailers scramble to get ready for the new alcohol tax hike; allowing wine shipping among other new laws to take effect tomorrow; DREAM Act won't be among them however; Ruppersberger backs merger of AT&T and T-Mobile; and Anne Arundel government, schools split on gay partner benefits. [...more]
State to make DREAM Act petition signatures public; booze tax hike goes into effect Friday; O'Malley expected to appoint legislative redistricting panel soon; task force to begin looking into limiting new septic systems in Maryland; gay marriage advocates turn to New York for help in passing local bill; and it's Nancy Grasmick's last week as state schools superintendent, reception tonight to be held in her honor. [...more]
Same-sex marriage advocates want O'Malley to take a stronger role -- a la New York's Andrew Cuomo -- in bringing issue back to Annapolis; more drivers protesting toll hikes; ACLU continues to voice concerns over online petitions in DREAM Act referendum; neighborhood could finally see benefit from legalized casino gambling; and state's Democratic stars turn out as Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announces re-election bid for city mayor. [...more]
Maryland's same-sex marriage advocates are hoping that New York state's passage of its marriage equality law will revive the issue here; so far, only 11 wineries have applied to ship wine under the new state law; tightened teen driving law credited with cutting serious car accidents; O'Malley slowly reviving his freewheeling musical ways; Ehrlich speaks at friend's funeral, just days after robocall indictments of campaign workers; Eastern Shore facing financial rough patch for chicken and grain farmers; loss of benefits to federal workers could rock Maryland; and Leslie Johnson in court Thursday. [...more]
Newt Gingrich revs up GOP fundraiser with anti-Obama speech; Lt. Gov. Brown assembles new work group on health care disparities; Comptroller Franchot won’t enforce new cigar ban; Wargotz considers run against Cardin; high school graduation rates may drop as state recalculates figures; and Hagerstown changing its municipal election date. [...more]
State elections board validates 47,288 signatures on petition to bring DREAM Act to referendum, less than 9,000 more to go to make the ballot; Henson attorney blasts Gansler over robocall indictment; former aide contests Schaefer estate; Bartlett's wealth grows; Prince George's gets another shot at securing HHS HQ; conservative Carroll County Commissioners cause concerns; and Baltimore County redistricting plan ready for review. [...more]
More people are flocking to sign anti-DREAM Act petition; O'Malley names 28 to study septic systems' environmental impact; more complain about toll hikes; MTA police won't get take-home cars; state students now required to study environment; Carroll County puts 1,000 feet between funerals and protesters; Arundel Council cuts tax rate temporarily; and Rushern Baker pulls economic development plan following council changes. [...more]
Maryland getting ready for broadband connections; McDonough announces plan to freeze proposed tolls; Feldman still interested in running for comptroller even as Barve eyes spot; and Harford County joins regional drug task force. [...more]
Reporters begin to ask what the potential fallout for Republicans and Democrats from the robocall indictments; Maryland comes in dead last in the nation in job creation; O'Malley's Asia trip garners kudos for bringing home the bacon; a sober and sobering look at the potential for Rocky Gap Resort to ever make money; Barve considers run for comptroller; former 7-term Del. Ruth Kirk dies; in-state tuition hike passed; many mayors gather in Baltimore city; taxi medallions curbed in Prince George's; and Howard County population booms, so should the council also grow? [...more]
Two Ehrlich campaign aides indicted in election night robocalls; more than 1,000 come out against toll hikes in Perryville, Kent Island; Clagett may run for comptroller; national mayors in Baltimore; more political diversity needed at universities; county execs endorse Rawlings-Blake; Napata throws his hat in the ring for mayor. [...more]
