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MD’s Greenhouse Gas Goals, Bay Bridge Safety, More Convicted Murderers Released, & Blue Crabs

Governor Martin O’Malley says Maryland must do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet its long-term goals. MdTA officials met with highway safety engineers from the National Transportation Safety Board yesterday to talk about the safety of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Six more men convicted of murder have been released from prison due to a court decision that ruled their trials unfair. Maryland’s blue crabs are listed as the second most iconic regional food in the nation. And more.

O’Malley On Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Governor Martin O'Malley is updating the state's plan to reduce greenhouse gases. O'Malley says the current strategies aren’t enough to get Maryland to its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. The Baltimore Sun reports that O’Malley’s updated plan would mandate the use of more renewable energy – a move critics say would drive up energy costs and could affect businesses’ bottom lines.

NTSB Investigation Of Bay Bridge Safety: Two highway safety engineers from the National Transportation Safety Board met with officials from the Maryland Transportation Authority yesterday to discuss the safety of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. There’s more here from the Baltimore Sun

Six Men Released From Prison: Six men convicted of homicides in the 1970s were freed from prison yesterday, due to a ruling by the state’s highest court that their trials had been unfair because of improper jury instructions. The six men still have the convictions on their records but signed agreements with prosecutors that allowed their release. The Baltimore Sun notes that they’ll all be placed under supervised probation. 

Legislative Panel Tours City Detention Center: Members of a special legislative commission investigating prison corruption took a tour of the Baltimore City Detention Center yesterday. The panel of state lawmakers was formed in the wake of the indictments of 13 corrections officers and 12 others in an alleged contraband smuggling operation at the jail. WYPR’s Karen Hosler has more; there’s more here from the Washington Postandherefrom the Baltimore Sun.

Getting To A Compromise On Annapolis' Compromise Street: WYPR's Fraser Smith and Jamyla Kay talk about the conflict between Annapolis city officials, business owners, and historic preservationists over proposed zoning changes and a potential revamp of the old Fawcett’s Boat Supply building. It’s this morning’s edition of Inside Maryland Politics. The Annapolis City Council held meeting on this issue last night;the Baltimore Sun reports that no decision on the City Dock plan or rezoning is likely until fall.

Outrage Not Limited To Zimmerman Verdict In Baltimore: The acquittal by a Florida jury of George Zimmerman on murder charges in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on July 13 sparked outrage and demonstrations in cities across the country, including Baltimore. The protests have been criticized, mostly by conservatives, who question why the case has received so much attention. WYPR’s Kenneth Burns looks at whether those comments have weight.

For The Love Of Science: While many students are enjoying a break from the books this summer, four Baltimore city youths are spending their time working on complex experiments in labs at Johns Hopkins University. The students are participants in the Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT) program. In its second year, the program, funded mainly by the university and the Mayor’s office, is designed to give disadvantaged youths more exposure to the sciences. WYPR’s Gwendolyn Glenn has more.

BPW Funds 14 Major Projects: The Frederick County town of Thurmont is getting nearly $3.7-million in state funding to build a new sewer line. The Frederick News Post reportsthat the project will improve operations at the town’s wastewater treatment plant. The Thurmont sewer line was just one of 14 major projects approved earlier this week by Maryland’s Board of Public Works – in all, the Board approved $65-million worth of loans and grants to pay for them.

Baltimore’s Work Ethic: The work ethic appears to be alive and well in Baltimore City. Movoto Real Estate's list of the 50 Most Hardworking Cities in the nation list ranks Baltimore 24th. The list is based on a number of factors including unemployment, volunteer time, cost of living and lack of sleep. The ranking declares Seattle to be the hardest working city in America.

Iconic Blue Crabs: Earlier this month, USA Today asked its readers – just how iconic are Maryland’s blue crabs? Pretty darned iconic, as it turns out. USA Today's 2013 “10 Best Readers' Choice Travel Awards”list said that Maryland crabs are the second most iconic regional food in the nation, right behind Albuquerque's green chile sauce. Blue crabs turned out to be more iconic than foods that have their locale of origin in their names… such as Philadelphia’s Philly cheese steak (which came in #5) and Key West’s Key lime pie (which came in at #10). 

Baltimore Baseball: The Orioles lost to the Kansas City Royals yesterday; the score was 7 to 1. The O's are back in Baltimore tonight, to play against the Boston Red Sox; tonight's game starts at 7:05pm.