With the South Baltimore pub crawl stabbing dominating the Internet, just wanted to point out a few other important crime stories of the day:
Julie Bykowicz write about testimony in Annapolis seeking tougher gang laws. Complaining that legislation passed two years ago has resulted in only one conviction (a guilty plea), law enforcement officials including Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy are urging changes to better define gangs and stiffen penalties. (At left, Jessamy testifies in Annapolis on Tuesday in a photo taken by The Sun's Barbara Haddock Taylor).
Justin Fenton write about new safeguards being put in place to help prevent inmates from escaping. Last week, a man serving three consecutive life terms managed to switch IDs with a cellmate who was being released, sparking a manhunt and raising questions about procedures.
Remember when The Sun wrote about a panel formed by the legislature to look at sex offender laws that never met? Well, that's not the only oversight panel created amid fanfare that was never actually put to use - a Department of Juvenile Services panel never got off the ground, either.
And Tricia Bishop gives a full story on the guilty verdicts in the ever-strange starvation death of a 16-month-old boy who refused to say "amen" before meals while living with alleged members of an East Baltimore cult.