State Roundup, October 29, 2009

Magna Entertainment is asking a bankruptcy judge to prohibit former racetrack owners from sharing in any slots proceeds, The Baltimore Sun reports.  Of course, at the moment Magna’s failed bid for a slots license means there’s not revenue to share even though it was the leading contributor to last year’s referendum that approved slots. The Washington Post gives a heads up on a new report showing gambling interests outspent anti-slots forces 7-1.

Gov. Martin O’Malley “is forcefully defending his demands for concessions to help ratepayers,” Liam Farrell reports in The Capital.

O’Malley senior adviser Michael Enright fires back at the strong Sun editorial critical of O’Malley’s stance on Constellation we highlighted Tuesday. “It is of course The Sun’s right to oppose any rate relief for 1.1 million BGE customers,” says Enright. “Martin Watcher,” the masked man behind OmalleyWatch.com, takes an interesting run through of the gov’s past statements on the need for new power generation in Maryland.

The first hearing on the proposed tolls for the Intercounty Connector from I-270 to I-95 – some of the highest in the nation – drew very few people, reports Michael Dresser in his Sun blog. “Based on the turnout at the first hearing, it’s hard to see the board making any big changes to the proposal, which could mean tolls of up to $6 for a one-way trip,” Dresser says.

Adam Pagnucco at Maryland Politics Watch highlights an O’Malley executive order telling state agencies to near transit sites for office locations as a way to promote transit-oriented development.

A Charles County Circuit Court judge pleaded guilty to deflating a woman’s tire in an trial reported on by AP’s Sarah Karush in The Washington Times as well as Steve Lash at The Daily Record.  No telling what will happen to Judge Robert Nalley.  The Post has a similar story.

The state prison system will now be sending out alerts on prison escapes by text message, phone and e-mail, replacing the old system of sirens, Bridget DiCosmo reports in The (Hagerstown) Herald Mail.  While announced at the big prison complex south of Hagerstown, the new alerts apply to all state prisons, and anyone can sign up online, the state reports in a detailed press release, including an explanation for the delay in the system.

About The Author

Len Lazarick

[email protected]

Len Lazarick was the founding editor and publisher of MarylandReporter.com and is currently the president of its nonprofit corporation and chairman of its board He was formerly the State House bureau chief of the daily Baltimore Examiner from its start in April 2006 to its demise in February 2009. He was a copy editor on the national desk of the Washington Post for eight years before that, and has spent decades covering Maryland politics and government.

Support Our Work!

We depend on your support. A generous gift in any amount helps us continue to bring you this service.

Facebook

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!