Brown to handle Preakness award honors

When the owner of the winning horse in the 2013 Preakness Stakes mounts the podium to strains of "Maryland, My Maryland" to accept the Woodlawn Vase Saturday,  Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown will make the presentation.

Perez clears committee, now faces larger fight

WASHINGTON -- Democrats and Republicans quickly squared off Thursday over the confirmation of Labor Secretary nominee and Marylander Tom Perez -- preparing for a fight that is likely to intensify after a Senate committee voted along party lines to advance his nomination to the full Senate.

Roads, bridges, transit projects announced with gas tax hike

The gas tax increase Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law Thursday will pay for weekend MARC service between Baltimore and D.C., roads and bridges throughout the state and construction on the Red and Purple lines to begin as soon as 2015.

O'Malley signs gun bill

Gov. Martin O'Malley on Thursday signed a gun-control bill that is among the country's most sweeping legislative responses to the December mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Franchot presents governor with $271 check

The Most Interesting Man in Maryland made an interesting presentation to Gov. Martin O'Malley Wednesday -- a $271 check representing royalties owed for an appearance in a movie while O'Malley was mayor of Baltimore.

Sen. Zirkin seeks reelection

Sen. Bobby Zirkin announced his reelection campaign Monday and said in an interview that he considered not running for a fifth term in the General Assembly after a "very, very hard session" that kept him away from his two young children.

Obama to visit Baltimore next week

President Barack Obama will visit Baltimore next Friday, the second in a series of outings aimed at selling his stalled jobs agenda.

O'Malley promises corrections reform as GOP calls for audit

Gov. Martin O'Malley said Thursday that he would expand the use of technology to block cell phone calls in Maryland corrections facilities, part of a set of reforms designed to "root out corruption" after a federal indictment alleged widespread gang activity at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Perez vote delayed as confirmation fight intensifies

WASHINGTON -- A Senate committee vote on Labor Secretary nominee Tom Perez was postponed hours before it was set to take place Wednesday, highlighting what appears to be a growing partisan fight over the confirmation of the former Maryland official. 

Attorney general says courts will uphold gun bill

In the face of a threatened lawsuit by the National Rifle Association, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has formally advised Gov. Martin O’Malley that he can sign the bill next week without fear of any part of it being overturned in the courts.

Brown to announce candidacy for governor Friday

Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown will formally announce his candidacy for governor Friday at a cookout in his home county of Prince George's.

City to move forward with development of Ripken field in Park Heights

Reinvestment and redevelopment of the distressed Park Heights neighborhood will continue under a funding agreement Baltimore's financial oversight panel approved Wednesday with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.

GOP ramps up criticism of Perez

WASHINGTON -- Congressional Republicans, including Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, stepped up their criticism of Labor Secretary nominee Tom Perez on Tuesday, amplifying their concerns a day before the former state official faces a Senate committee vote on his confirmation.

Dissident gun activist moves forward on vote

 A Montgomery County woman who has split with other Second Amendment activists on how to fight Gov. Martin O'Malley's recently passed gun safety bill said Friday that she has received the green light to begin a petition drive to bring the issue to a referendum.

Assembly leaders change plans for city jail oversight

General Assembly leaders say a joint committee of top legislators will hear from corrections officials about alleged corruption at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Guzzone rules out race for Howard executive

Del. Guy Guzzone, who had been considering a run for Howard County executive in 2014, has ruled out such a race and will seek re-election to the General Assembly.

O'Malley signs death penalty repeal

Surrounded by religious leaders, civil rights activists and others who have fought for years to stop executions in Maryland, Gov. Martin O'Malley signed legislation Thursday repealing the state's death penalty.

O'Malley to sign death penalty repeal today

Gov. Martin O'Malley will sign legislation Thursday morning abolishing capital punishment in Maryland -- a goal of his since he took office in 2007.

McCray to run for East Baltimore delegate seat

A Northeast Baltimore community leader said Wednesday he plans to step down from the city's Board of Elections to run for a state delegate seat.

Papenfuse retiring as state archivist

Edward C. Papenfuse, an Annapolis icon who has presided over the Maryland State Archives for almost 38 years, announced this week that he will retire as of Nov. 1.

Young, Pratt criticize city's use of consultants

Two of the city's top three elected officials are criticizing what they believe is an over-reliance on consultants within city government.

Rawlings-Blake wants answers from O'Malley over city jail scandal

UPDATE: O'Malley's spokeswoman, Raquel Guillory, said late Wednesday that the governor had a meeting with the mayor and discussed "the history of the case and the formation of the task force."

Annapolis man to head FEMA grant program

President Barack Obama has named an Annapolis man to head the multibillion-dollar grant program through which the Federal Emergency Management Agency helps local governments prepare for disasters.

Arundel's George seeks to jump from delegate to governor

Del. Ron George, a Republican who operates a jewelry store almost under the shadow of the State House, will go for the political gold as he makes a run for governor in 2014.

House GOP deposes O'Donnell, chooses Kipke as leader

Vastly outnumbered and constantly thwarted by Democrats, Republicans in the House of Delegates ousted longtime Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell Tuesday and replaced him with Anne Arundel County Del. Nicholaus R. Kipke.

OpenBaltimore parking ticket, speed camera data updated

After a three-month delay, Baltimore has resumed posting parking ticket data on OpenBaltimore, the city government's transparency website.

Petition effort begun to overturn gun law

If you hate Maryland's new gun law and wish you could vote against it, Sue Payne is looking for you.

San Francisco mayor comes to Baltimore for day of service

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will join the mayor of San Francisco today for a day of service in Baltimore to collect on a Super Bowl wager that she won when the Ravens dominated the 49ers.

O'Malley to sign death penalty repeal next week

Gov. Martin O'Malley plans to sign a law abolishing capital punishment in Maryland next week, though a referendum effort may be on the horizon.

BGF gang indictment leads to state hearings

Allegations that a cabal of Black Guerrilla Family gang members effectively took over the Baltimore City Detention Center have prompted a rare out-of-session legislative hearing on the state's prison system.