Governor Martin O'Malley today will detail some $150-million in transportation projects on the Eastern Shore. The developer of Baltimore’s Harbor Point is planning to buy the city's initial offering of bonds for the project. A watchdog group alleges 173 cases in which people voted in the same election in Maryland and in Florida. The state Comptroller’s office says MD would see tens of millions of dollars in economic activity if schools didn’t start until after Labor Day. Plus: the discovery of a prehistoric whale along the Potomac river, a rescheduled hearing on Annapolis Alderman Ken Kirby’s candidacy for re-election, a Pentagon report calls the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant a terror target, a land annexation in Frederick, and more.
O’Malley Announces Transportation Projects: Governor Martin O'Malley will be visiting the Eastern Shore today to announce the funding of some major road projects. The Washington Post reports that some $150-million dollars of spending will be detailed… including 50 million dollars to replace the Dover Bridge over the Choptank River. The work’s being paid for by higher gas taxes – required by a transportation funding bill that passed the General Assembly this year; the legislation’s expected to bring in nearly $4.5-billion over the next six years.
Harbor Point: The developer of Baltimore’s Harbor Point is planning to buy the city's entire initial offering of bonds for the project. City officials say the $35-million-dollar sale will save the city money; critics say developer Michael Beatty is double dipping, and should instead use the cash to advance the development. The Baltimore Sun notes that the huge waterfront project is on track to get over $400-million in public subsidies, including some 110 million dollars in tax breaks.
Should Schools Stay Closed ‘Till After Labor Day? Some of Maryland’s public schools open on Monday. Others – like those here in Baltimore City – have another week before their first day. But a new report from the state Comptroller’s office says maybe they should all stay shut until after Labor Day. As the Baltimore Sun reports, Maryland could see an additional $74-million in direct economic activity if schools delayed their starts until after the holiday. A later start has long been backed by Comptroller Peter Franchot… as well as lawmakers on the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland; they’re looking for a boost in tourism dollars in their jurisdictions, and say that the early returns mean many families don't get to complete their summer vacations. In order to mandate a later start, state lawmakers would have to intervene;the Daily Times reports that the General Assembly wouldn’t likely do so before the 2015-2016 school year.
Maryland's (Limited) Tax Holiday Week Continues: Today and tomorrow, you can buy many articles of clothing - including shoes - valued up to $100 without having to pay Maryland's 6% sales tax. A list of which items are eligible is here.
Allegations of Election Fraud: an election fraud watchdog group says it has found evidence of 173 cases in the last 7 years in which people voted in the same election in Maryland and in Florida. Frederick County Republican Delegate Kelly Schulz is calling on the State Board of Elections to investigate the allegations. The charges were raised by the group “True the Vote;” the Baltimore Sun reports that the organization is also calling on the US Department of Justice to investigate its findings.
Race Injected Into Governor's Race: WYPR's Fraser Smith and Charles Robinson of Maryland Public Television talk about Attorney General Doug Gansler's secretly-recorded comments about Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown. It's this morning's edition of Inside Maryland Politics.
A Whale Of A Find: The recent discovery of a prehistoric whale skeleton along the shore of the Potomac River may help scientists understand life and climate change during the Miocene Epoch. The dig’s being led by paleontologists from the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomon’s Maryland… a location 150 feet below the cliffs at Virginia’s Stratford Hall, birthplace of General Robert E. Lee. Pamela D’Angelo has more.
Pentagon Report Calls Calvert Cliffs Potential Terror Target: Nuclear power plants in the U.S. are being called terror targets. A new report ordered by the Pentagon says more than 100 facilities, including Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs, are at risk of being attacked. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, however, says it doesn't believe the study contains new information; the NRC also says the facilities mentioned have adequate protection. WJZ has more.
Kirby’s Candidacy Hearing Moved To Tonight: Annapolis Alderman Ken Kirby is now set to find out TONIGHT whether he’ll be allowed to run for re-election. Annapolis’s Board of Supervisors of Elections has originally planned to consider Alderman Kirby’s candidacy next week; but the Capital Gazette reportsthat a scheduling conflict has moved the meeting to this evening. The Elections Board has already approved all other candidates for city office – but complaints about Kirby’s campaign finance reports and questions about his residency have prompted the board to take a closer look.
Annexation Expands Frederick: Frederick is 97 acres bigger this morning. The city’s Board of Alderman voted last night to approve the annexation, where more than 450 single-family houses and townhouses will likely be built in the coming years. Critics of the annexation are concerned that current infrastructure – such as roads, water, and schools – isn’t yet able to support the future development. The Frederick News Post reports that those concerns will be studied before any development is approved.
Collisions Down In OC: Ocean City has seen a dramatic decline in accidents between cars and pedestrians or bicyclists this year – and the town’s crediting its new awareness ads for the drop. The Baltimore Sun reportsthat bike collisions are down 50 present this year, and pedestrian collisions are down 56 percent. Ocean City police say the drops prove their new “Walk Smart” and “Ride Smart” campaigns are working.
Ray Lewis’s Home For Sale: Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is now retired, and he’s looking to leave his Owings Mills home behind. The Baltimore Business Journal reports that Lewis has listed the two-acre property at over a million-dollars; the house features grand master suites, an Olympic sized pool, marble and granite appointments and more. Lewis retired as a player after the Ravens won the Super Bowl in January, and he is now working as an analyst for ESPN.
Baltimore Football: the Ravens took down the Atlanta Falcons 27 to 23 in last night’s game. The Ravens have won both of the preseason games they’ve played so far… they’ll go for a third next Thursday, when they take on the Carolina Panthers.
Baltimore Baseball: the Orioles will be back at Camden Yards tonight, to kick off a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies; the first pitch in tonight’s game is set for 7:05pm.