House earmark change could affect many pet projects in Md.

Two fur coats formerly owned by Dixon join Xbox on eBay

The coats -- one fashioned from lustrous mink, the other from whorls of sable-colored Persian lamb -- rest on hangers from a high-end furrier. A tag is looped around each fur, marked with the name of the woman who once owned them, and, in bold, black letters: "EVIDENCE."

Biologists discover deadly bat disease in Md. cave

Biologists have found what they believe is the first evidence that Maryland bats are now infected with white nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has killed more than a million hibernating bats since 2006, devastating colonies from New England to Virginia.

Senate panel debates death penalty legislation

Ex-O's pitcher Flanagan joins broadcast booth

More than a year after his stint as an Orioles executive ended, Mike Flanagan will return to the organization as a color analyst for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

Each Howard high school to get $2,000 for post-prom parties

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced Wednesday that he will donate $2,000 to all 12 county high schools' post-prom party efforts. The $24,000 will come from money seized during drug-related crimes.

NYSE rebukes Black & Decker, says firm should have considered partnership

The board of Black & Decker Corp. should have considered a real estate partnership between chief executive Nolan D. Archibald and a company board member to determine the director's independence in voting on a pending merger with The Stanley Works, The New York Stock Exchange has advised.

Baltimore Co. water main break has been repaired

The water main break that left tens of thousands of Northwest Baltimore County residents without water for days has been repaired and is back in service, according to Baltimore's director of public works.

Maryland jobless rate edges up to 7.5 percent in January

Maryland's unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent in January as job cuts continued unabated, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

Comfort to return to Baltimore five days later than planned

The hospital ship USNS Comfort will arrive at its Baltimore home five days later than originally planned, Navy officials said Wednesday.

Howard police seek city man suspected in shoplifting, assault

Howard County police have issued an arrest warrant for a 41-year-old Baltimore man who they believe attacked a shopping mall security guard with a box cutter last month after being suspected of shoplifting.

Carroll County man arrested in hammer attack on wife

A 33-year-old Carroll County man accused of beating his doctor wife with a hammer has been extradited from Georgia and now faces attempted first-degree murder charges, according to state police.

Council talks about harbor trash issues

Ga. grand jury indicts two Baltimore men, two others, on assisted suicide charges

Four members of an assisted suicide group, including two Baltimore men, were indicted Tuesday on charges of helping a 58-year-old man with cancer kill himself, more than a year after they were arrested in the Georgia case.

Baltimore-area home sales continued rise in February

Home sales in the Baltimore metro area continued to rise last month -- and prices continued to drop.

NYSE rebukes B&D for take on board member independence

Man killed in Cockeysville early Wednesday

Baltimore County police are investigating a homicide in Cockeysville that took place early Wednesday.

Man, 34, shot in East Baltimore

A 34-year-old man was shot in East Baltimore late Tuesday night, according to Baltimore Police.

St. Joseph tells 169 more patients they may have had unneeded surgery

St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, facing lawsuits and a pair of federal investigations related to its cardiac care business, has informed another 169 heart patients that they received expensive and potentially dangerous treatments they might not have needed.

Gibbons still has hope of going independent

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is discouraging talk of turning the Cardinal Gibbons School over to supporters to run as an independent school, but the Gibbons community is not giving up hope.

O'Malley plan to expand heritage tax credit draws leaders' concern

The governor's bid to expand a popular tax credit for rehabilitating old buildings faces resistance from key House leaders, who worry that a broader program would be too costly during tough fiscal times.

Man arrested in killing of security guard

A 24-year-old man has been arrested in the killing of a Bank of America security guard in downtown Baltimore last month, police said.

No big Harford budget cuts for now, Craig says

After reporting a projected $8 million revenue shortfall in late January, when he announced an early retirement incentive program for county workers, Harford County Executive David Craig said Tuesday that he doesn't expect further drastic action during the fiscal year - despite $3 million in snow-removal costs and a $1.3 million decline in state income tax payments in February. "We've been pragmatic," he said, by leaving nearly 300 open county jobs vacant and attracting nearly 50 older county workers to the early retirement program. "We anticipated the second drop in income tax revenues," Craig said, and the extra snow-clearance costs can be offset by surplus funds without touching the county's $25 million rainy-day fund.

Baltimore deputy mayor resigns

Baltimore Deputy Mayor Andrew B. Frank, one of the highest-ranking officials from the Sheila Dixon administration retained by Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake, announced his resignation Tuesday.

Black & Decker defends Archibald's relationship with board member

Black & Decker Corp. defended Tuesday a real estate partnership between chief executive Nolan D. Archibald and a company board member who approved the toolmaker's pending acquisition by the Stanley Works and a lucrative compensation package for Archibald.

Parts en route for Balto. County water repairs

Public works officials pledged to have all water service restored in northwestern Baltimore County by Thursday morning, five days after a water main break disrupted the lives of about 100,000 residents and businesses.

Animal advocates gather to protest Vick's Ed Block Courage Award

Carrying signs with slogans like "No awards for dog killers" and "Cowards abuse animals," Tuesday evening about 100 protesters picketed the award ceremony at which convicted dogfighter Michael Vick received an award for his courage and sportsmanship.

Md. Senate acts on unemployment benefits

The Maryland Senate this morning unanimously approved a plan to change unemployment benefits as a way to tap into nearly $127 million in federal stimulus money.

Suspect arrested in city killing of bank security guard

A 24-year-old man has been arrested in the killing of a Bank of America security guard in downtown Baltimore last month, police said.

Md. included in antitrust settlement with voting system provider

The nation's largest provider of voting equipment will forgo its acquisition of a rival company as part of an antitrust settlement reached with nine states, including Maryland, according to the Department of Justice.

All water service in Baltimore County should be restored by Thursday, officials say

Public works officials pledged to have all water service restored in northwestern Baltimore County by Thursday morning, five days after a water main break disrupted the lives of about 100,000 residents and businesses.

Grasmick grants five-day calendar waiver for Arundel schools

Students in Anne Arundel County won't go to school for 180 days this year, thanks to last month's record-breaking snowstorms.

USNS Comfort ship to leave Wednesday, head back to Baltimore

The USNS Comfort, the Baltimore-based hospital ship that has been treating quake victims in Haiti, is coming home.

Vasquez, Williams get top ACC honors

Gary Williams and Greivis Vasquez have long been each other's most passionate advocates.

City police arrest twin brothers in connection with burglaries

Woman's remains found in shallow grave in Montgomery County

Montgomery County Police are trying to identify a woman whose remains were found in a shallow grave in Patuxent River State Park near Damascus.

Howard budget shortfall grows due to snow removal, tax decline

Howard County's budget shortfall is growing instead of shrinking as the fiscal year enters its final quarter before ending June 30.

Columbia Association, Owen Brown board members to run for new terms

Philip Kirsch of Wilde Lake intends to run for a fifth one-year term on the Columbia Association Board of Directors in next month's elections, he said Monday, and Owen Brown's veteran board member Pearl Atkinson-Stewart says she expects to run for a new two-year term.

Annapolis mayor's $82.3M budget includes layoffs, service cuts

Just days after announcing that almost three dozen city workers would be laid off amid a record budget deficit, Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen unveiled Monday night an $82.3 million operating budget that restructures key city departments by eliminating managerial positions, cuts some city services and reduces overall spending.

Man stabbed in West Baltimore

A 20-year-old man remains in critical condition after he was stabbed Monday night in West Baltimore, according to police.

Six denied bail in murder scheme

At her husband's viewing Friday, Karla Porter, the grieving widow, shook hands and received words of consolation from the mourners. She passed out bookmarks with a wildflower to plant in William "Ray" Porter's memory, and a letter, signed in his name, urging that all of his organs be donated to help others.

Delay in case of 8-year-old with gun angers Baltimore police

School police who arrested an 8-year-old boy Thursday and charged him with bringing a loaded handgun to a South Baltimore elementary school purposely did not notify the Baltimore Police Department until the next day, which city police say impeded efforts to find out how the child got the weapon and whether any adults should be held responsible.

Parents question Baltimore archdiocese over Catholic school closures

Facing a sea of red Monday night in the auditorium of the Cardinal Gibbons School, Bishop Denis J. Madden offered a glimmer of hope to students, parents and alumni distraught about plans to shut the high school down at the end of the academic year.

Compromise reached on storm-water pollution rules

Builders, environmentalists and government officials have reached a compromise in a looming legislative fight that threatened to weaken Maryland's new storm-water pollution rules, they said Monday.

Carl Stokes picked to fill Jack Young's vacant council seat

Carl Stokes, a founder of a Baltimore charter school, was elected unanimously by the City Council to fill a vacant seat in the 12th District, returning him to the body on which he served for eight years.

Census temp workers for Md. count lacking

As the Census Bureau struggles to find local workers for thousands of temporary positions, set back by twin snowstorms and a lower-than-expected passing rate for applicants, a newly released study shows that Maryland has received the lowest percentage of federal money based on Census statistics.

Supreme Court to decide military funeral protest case

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide on the outer limits of free-speech protection for public protests and to rule on whether the family of a dead Maryland Marine can sue religious protesters who picketed near his funeral with signs that said, "Thank God for dead soldiers."

Senate panel backs appointment of Miller's son to judgeship

A key Senate panel voted Monday evening to approve the appointment of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller's son as an Anne Arundel County District Court judge, a nomination that was first put forward two years ago and prompted three members of the county's judicial nominating commission to resign in protest.

Dixon's Xbox up for sale on eBay

Attention political junkies and video game enthusiasts — there's an item for sale online that might pique your interest.

Senate panel backs appointment of Miller's son to judgeship

A key Senate panel voted Monday evening to approve the appointment of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller's son as an Anne Arundel County District Court judge, a nomination that was first put forward two years ago and prompted three members of the county's judicial nominating commission to resign in protest.