lobbying

The rest of the world should be paying close attention to France's burkini controversy, because this is the kind of fiasco that ensues when you blast past every exit ramp en route to total social disintegration.

Lagana's camp thrives on technical and tactical facets to help players build skills

A heroin bill has been withdrawn; the newest movie theater being built in Harford County is slated to have beer, wine and liquor sales, provided the legislation that would allow them passes the Maryland State Senate, and a bill designed to resolve municipal election ties such as the one affecting Aberdeen's City Council has passed the House of Delegates and moved to the Senate.

Aberdeen city leaders say they are working to find the money to hire a school resource officer for Aberdeen Middle School, following recent incidents in which the police had to respond to the school.

Carlyle Development Group, the New York firm that recently purchased 100 S. Charles Street for $45 million, has a new name for the complex: Pratt Plaza, and never you mind its official address.

In the office of Harford County's new county executive, waterfowl are mostly out and sheep are definitely in.

In the coming days a speck is expected to rise on the Baltimore skyline: It's a giant balloon that the Army will be floating high above Middle River to scan the skies for cruise missiles.

Led by West Virginia's attorney general, 21 states have joined a legal effort seeking to overturn Maryland's tough new gun-control law. The Maryland statute has no effect on gun laws in their states, but the attorneys general argue in amicus briefs filed this month that Maryland's ban was written too broadly and violates the Second Amendment rights of their citizens.

Ken Ulman may have just a week and a half left in office as Howard County executive, but his image will stick around the county's Ellicott City headquarters even after he packs up his office.

After 150 years, the aim of University of Maryland, St. Joseph Medical Center is still compassionate care. Just ask Sister Evelyn Grudza, one of five Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, who have worked at the hospital for decades and who believe, their job is to continue the mission of the three Franciscan sisters who opened St. Joseph's German Catholic Hospital in three donated rowhouses in East Baltimore in 1864.

A Maui getaway is a glaring examples of lawmakers getting cozy with the folks who are paid to influence them.

Plenty of corporate lobbyists approve of Maryland's new political order. They see blood in the water, and they're getting ready to pounce.

"Footloose" has come to the stage at Liberty High School's Schnorr Auditorium, located at 5855 Bartholow Road in Eldersburg. The show opened on Nov. 7, and performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 13, 14, and 15, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 15.

News from schools in Baltimore County

Stan Ber's Bits & Pieces column for the week of Nov. 14

Veterans advocates hope to see Carroll vets get treatment right at home

Intricately painted hands sparkled with colors and jewels on Saturday night as many in attendance at St. John's Episcopal Church's first Global Gala celebrated the event with a henna tattoo.

Maryland's new Republican governor needs to hit the ground running with action on the budget, bi-partisan legislation and a listening tour of key constituencies.

About two dozen trainee candidates in a six-week workforce training boot camp are getting an inside look at the Baltimore area's manufacturing landscape. For those who can prove themselves by course's end, a limited number of jobs will be waiting.

Liberty High School students are bringing 'Footloose' to the school's Schnorr Auditorium, starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 7.

Two men with backgrounds in education and experience with Harford County politics are vying to lead the county council, hoping to win over Harford voters by the Nov. 4 general election.

Using a new evaluation system that includes student achievement, the percentage of teachers rated unsatisfactory in the state nearly tripled to about 3 percent, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Maryland State Department of Education.

State and local governments have become too adept at skirting public information act requests

When the Parkway Theater is renovated, why not fix up the Charles too?

How can Hogan not realize that refusing to release his response to an NRA questionnaire makes it look as if he has something to hide?

Why should the NRA know more about Larry Hogan's views on guns than voters do?

A 14-year-old girl was being held without bail after being arrested over the weekend and charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder in connection with a serious stabbing in Southwest Baltimore.

Downing Jett Kay joined nine fellow centenarian residents of Pickersgill Retirement Community in Towson for a celebration this week . The group, which included a former dancer with the Rockettes and a nurse who treated scarlet fever patients, had collectively born witness to more than a thousand years of life.

Anthony Brown is puzzled that some people find him stuffy or stilted. He describes himself as deliberate.

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Ravens and Verizon Wireless will team up to host a phone recycling drive.

The Ravens are placing veteran safety Will Hill on the active roster today in advance of Sunday's game agaisnt the Atlanta Falcons, according to a source.

A recap of the Oct. 15 season premiere of 'Top Chef,' where there's already bloodletting in Boston

Veteran safety Will Hill scooted around the Ravens' practice field Wednesday, determined to make up lost time after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL substance-abuse policy.

Women suffering through breast cancer treatments will be getting some positive messages and well wishes from Carroll County residents thanks to a letter writing campaign based out of the Finksburg Branch library.

When Jack B. Johnson, the county executive for Prince George's County, was indicted in 2010 on federal charges shortly before pleading guilty to extortion along with witness and evidence tampering, legislators realized local governments needed to be held just as accountable as state employees. Though changes made to the requirements for local governments — including counties, municipalities and school boards — are mandatory, some municipalities in Carroll County have been reluctant

Domestic violence prevention programs are far from the rule in many workplaces, and the House of Ruth of Maryland is hoping that might begin to change with the help of a partnership formed with the Baltimore Ravens in the wake of the Ray Rice scandal.

Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Finksburg branch of the Carroll County Public Library is collecting letters for Girls Love Mail, a group that delivers handwritten letters to women undergoing treatment for breast cancer.