george c edwards

Luke Mill, an economic engine in Western Maryland for 131 years, will close by June 30, owner Verso Co. announced Tuesday. The shutdown means 675 people spread across Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will lose their jobs, the company said.

Maryland's Democratic leaders in the General Assembly have appointed a committee to review applications for state treasurer.

Incoming Sen. Cory McCray will represent Baltimore on the Senate's powerful budget committee. McCray, 36, will take the Budget and Taxation Committee seat held for 24 years by the man he defeated in June’s Democratic primary, Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden.

The state spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 represents a 2.2 percent increase over the current fiscal year.

The state Senate approved the state's $43.5 billion budget on Thursday, though some senators expressed concerns that the budget doesn't resolve long-term spending imbalances.

About 4,000 acres out of 100,000 in Garrett County once leased for natural gas wells remain under contract, so even if the General Assembly doesn't ban fracking, Western Maryland isn't expecting an energy boom.

Gov, Larry Hogan outlined a budget Tuesday that he said reduces spending for next year while holding off tax increases or painful cuts to service.

State environmental regulators will not adopt rules to govern fracking in Western Maryland by Oct. 1, missing a legal deadline that marks one year until a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing expires.

Northrop Grumman Corp would receive millions over the next five years in an incentive pushed by the Hogan administration, on top of $20 million lawmakers already intend to award the defense contractor for staying in Maryland.

A state Senate committee decided to put off any action on proposed tax breaks for manufacturers until at least next year, deciding there isn't enough time before the end of the 2016 legislative session on April 11 to craft legislation.

Gov. Larry Hogan's embattled nominee to the commission that regulates Maryland utilities told senators Monday night that he believed he had done nothing wrong in discussing agency business with administration officials but pledged he would show greater independence in the future.

A proposal to combine the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore cleared a hurdle Tuesday, though a Senate committee dialed back language that could have ultimately merged the institutions under a single president.

A Washington County official faces scrutiny by the Maryland Senate over a derogatory comment he allegedly made about women and a racist Facebook post that depicts the "Little Rascals" character Buckwheat.

Hogan to launch 4-day swing through Western Maryland

Gov. Larry Hogan's transportation chief told lawmakers Tuesday that there's nothing left from the money saved by canceling Baltimore's Red Line for major initiatives to improve transit services in Baltimore.

Both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly separately passed measures Tuesday that mark the most aggressive action the legislature has taken to curb natural gas extraction in the state.

Maryland's new transportation chief promised senators Wednesday that he will keep an open mind as he considers whether the state should go ahead with two huge light rail projects, including Baltimore's Red Line.

Beyond spending cuts for next year, Gov. Larry Hogan is asking the General Assembly for an array of permanent, long-term budget reductions — for public schools, private colleges, libraries and economic development aid for farmers.

Capping more than three years of study, the O'Malley administration declared Tuesday that hydraulic fracturing for natural gas can be done safely in Western Maryland, but only after regulations are tightened to reduce air and water pollution and protect residents from well contamination, noise and other disruption associated with an anticipated drilling boom.

The call for the wild is being heard again across Maryland – though not everyone welcomes it.

Howard County is considering other locations than North Laurel's Beechcrest Mobile Home Park to build an apartment complex for the chronically homeless, county spokesman Mark Miller confirmed this week.

The Maryland Senate passed Gov. Martin O'Malley's gambling expansion bill on a 28-14 vote Friday, sending the legislation to a more closely divided House of Delegates for a decision when the General Assembly's special session continues into a second week Monday.

Senate gives preliminary OK to casino bill

The Maryland Senate prepared to take up the governor's gambling bill Friday as Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller expressed cautious optimism that the General Assembly will approve the measure by early next week.

After sinking millions of dollars into the dream of a world-class tourist destination in the mountains of Western Maryland, the state is poised to cut its losses and turn the Rocky Gap hotel and conference center over to a private company that will open a casino at the lakeside resort.

Pushing legislative brinkmanship to its limits, the General Assembly will go into the last scheduled day of its 90-day session Monday without an agreement on the one thing it must get done under Maryland's Constitution: pass a balanced budget.

Determined to avoid deep cuts to state spending, a Senate committee voted Thursday to approve an increase of roughly one-quarter of a percent in Maryland's income tax rate and to shift part of the state's teacher pension costs to the counties, though at a more gradual pace than proposed by Gov. Martin O'Malley.

Landowners, Realtors seek more disclosure, protections

After two unsuccessful attempts to transform the debt-ridden Rocky Gap Lodge in a profit generating casino, Maryland lawmakers are considering a package of financial incentives to slash the tax rate and erase millions in fees in an attempt to attract a bidder.