Congressman Chris Van Hollen is calling for more scrutiny of the National Security Agency, and for reforms of the Patriot Act. More than 150-thousand Maryland kids are going back to school today, in Frederick and Prince George’s Counties; Washington County schools open on Wednesday, and most other public schools start class a week from today. Plus: the latest on the 2014 Governor’s race, the creation of a task force to study the idea of regional transportation authorities, the Maryland context of Eric Holder's sentencing policies, and demolition of Baltimore’s vacants. And more.