civil and public service

The department of defense has ordered the stoppage of all service academy intercollegiate athletics as a result of the government shutdown, putting Saturday's Navy-Air Force football game in question.

The members of the Harford County Board of Estimates recently voted 5-0 in favor of an $84,487 contract with BGE to cover the county's portion of the costs of building electric infrastructure for the new Department of Emergency Services facilities north of Bel Air.

government shutdown angers even those who weren't furloughed

Birdie's Cafe, at 233 East Main Street, is offering any government employee affected by the shutdown a free cup of coffee for as long as the shutdown lasts, according to owner Sherri Joseph.

A broad coalition of environmental and other groups urged Gov. Martin O'Malley Tuesday to oppose development of a natural gas export terminal on the Chesapeake Bay, calling it an unacceptable environmental and safety threat.

Residents and a Howard County Council member who were among those pressing for state action on complaints about power outages affecting thousands of people in several neighborhoods say they're pleased that the Maryland Public Service Commission is ordering BGE to improve service.

Paid for doing nothing?

Fred Eiland has thought about running for office for the past five years. And on his birthday ¿ July 23 ¿ he made it official by filing for the state delegate race in District 13.

Gov. Martin O'Malley on Wednesday appointed Anne E. Hoskins, an executive with a New Jersey-based energy company, to the powerful board that regulates utility rates in Maryland.

O'Malley names Hoskins to PSC

Construction of a disputed trash-burning power plant in South Baltimore began this week on the 160-megawatt facility, meeting a state-imposed deadline, the company spokeswoman said.

City officials have dropped more than 1,600 spouses, children and others from municipal health care coverage after workers failed to fill out forms to prove they were legitimate dependents.

The Maryland state employees' pension system reported last week that it grew to more than $40 billion during the 12 months that ended June 30 as it posted a 10.6 percent return on its investments.

Aberdeen Resident Wins SECU Scholarship

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman plans to seek a term of her own in the 2014 elections.

Maryland utilities participating in a voluntary program that encourages the use of suppliers owned by minorities, women or disabled veterans spent 11 percent less on contracts with such businesses last year even as total contracting grew modestly.

Why does BGE do such a terrible job servicing its customers?

Harford County government employees will get an additional holiday next month. The county administration announced late Wednesday that county government offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

State Senator Nancy Jacobs, a Republican representing District 34 that includes parts of Harford and Cecil counties along the Route 40 corridor, announced today that she will not be seeking reelection next year.

Aberdeen's city council wants a committee to study what its salaries should be.

WASHINGTON — Leaks about secret National Security Agency surveillance programs made by an intelligence contractor reopened a debate Monday over how much the government relies on companies for spy work and whether the firms must do more to vet employees and protect classified information.

The City Council's rush to approve a local hiring law this week was unfortunate and possibly illegal as well

The City Council's finance committee will hear testimony Thursday on the mayor's bill to require the city's civilian employees to contribute to their pension fund. Councilman Carl Stokes, who chairs the finance committee, said he expects the plan to pass.

A series of articles and editorials written by members of The Aegis staff about the alarming rise in traffic deaths in Harford County last year - and how law enforcement rushed to address the situation - has been named the best public service journalism in the region last year.

BGE wants the Public Service Commission to allow a surcharge on customers' bills to pay for enhanced reliability projects, but ultimately that's a matter that should be handled by the legislature.

New app amounts to a taxicab service and should be regulated as one

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. asked Friday for a rate increase, three months after winning approval for higher charges in its last case — a shift to more frequent rate requests that the company expects will continue.

The Justice Department's secret review of Associated Press telephone records gives advocates for federal employees one more reason to doubt the Obama administration's full commitment to protecting whistle-blowers, particularly those in national security agencies.

The Maryland Public Service Commission is weighing a case brought by petition by residents of several Howard County neighborhoods who complain of years of frequent and often lengthy power outages.

In the meanwhile, if you have a cheap gun, do yourself and the rest of us a favor this weekend and turn it in so some good comes of the latest incarnation of the gun debate. If you want to exercise your Second Amendment rights, do so with a quality weapon.

The O'Malley administration has notified state employees in same-sex relationships that they won't be able to include domestic partners in their health insurance anymore.

Hiring for federal jobs in Maryland has fallen 30 percent since 2008, and for the first time in years is being outpaced by the number of employees retiring or resigning — a trend that has raised concerns among some about the government's ability to deliver services in the future.

The O'Malley administration has notified state employees in same-sex relationships that they won't be able to include domestic partners in their health insurance anymore.

The O'Malley administration has notified state employees in same-sex relationships that they won't be able to include domestic partners in their health insurance anymore.

With the pension system for City Hall workers facing nearly $700 million in unfunded liabilities, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is introducing legislation Monday that would require employees to start contributing some of their salaries to the fund.

Our government must serve the people, not special interests groups.

When officials in Washington evaluate the consequences of the sequester, Tiara Bland wants them to consider the sixth-grade girls at Mother Seton Academy.

Legislation forcing all Maryland teachers to pay dues isn't fair

When the economy gets better, and the size of the pie increases is the time to provide raises to the staff.

The end of the 2014 General Assembly session in Annapolis will mark the end of 48 years in public service for Howard County Sen. Jim Robey.

Exelon gave about $7 million to Maryland charitable causes in the 12 months since it acquired Baltimore's Constellation Energy Group, the same as Constellation had in recent years. That was the deal — literally.

The "average" federal employee salary stands at nearly $78,500, an amount that has risen by about $1,800 in the past two years despite a general freeze on salary rates, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

Government workers should thank their lucky stars for not suffering as their private sector counterparts have

The pension system for most city workers has nearly $700 million in unfunded liabilities, according to an audit released Wednesday. In contrast, the smaller system for elected officials — who contribute to their pensions — is in strong financial shape, another audit shows.

City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young plans to hire an independent budget analyst who last year helped to design an alternative proposal to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's budget.

Gov. Martin O'Malley's bill has passed the General Assembly, but daunting regulatory, political and financial hurdles remain before a wind-driven power plant could be built in the water 10 miles from Ocean City.

Ernest B. Crofoot, a labor organizer who later became head of Council 67 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, died Friday from complications of cancer at his Annapolis home. He was 88.

Legislators heard an outpouring of complaints Thursday about smart meters from Maryland energy customers who want to be allowed to opt out without charge.

Harford County government employees collected more than three tons of food during a one-week drive to aid Harvest for the Hungry which concluded Friday.