Sorry 'bout no blog yesterday. The Third Floor needed a day off. Friday, too, so Monday will be the next update.
That's What You Get When You Fire Louis Rukeyser: After 35 years on the air Maryland Public Television cancels landmark PBS show Wall $treet Week.
Ah-choo! UM School of Medicine to help test avian flu vaccine.
Park Life: In an attempt to hold on to swing voters next year, Gov. Bob Ehrlich and GOP legislators change minds, back ballot amendment that, if voters pass it, would curtail governor's ability to sell off state-owned parkland. (Post story.)
Generally Assembled: From yesterday's Post, John Wagner and David Snyder catch up on outstanding bills and such as the legislative session goes into crunch time. As I'm neither a teen nor the parent of one, I've not been following these bills closely, but a lot of people seem to care massively about them: Anyway, teen driving restriction bills inch closer to passage. Sort of changing her position, Helen Delich Bentley tells legislators not to make Maryland Port Administration a cabinet-level agency--at least not yet. And a good story on the stem-cell research money debate in the legislature from the Gazette papers.
Hopkins Murder Bust: In case you've been under a rock for the past 24 hours or so police arrest suspect in killing of Hopkins student Linda Trinh. Sidebar on student reaction, News-Letter story, Post story, Washington Times story.
Self-Defense: From the Dundalk Eagle, Baltimore County Department of Social Services defends its role in death of 3-year-old Roy Lechner Jr.
Bus Battle: From The Messenger, business owners at York and Belvedere don't like bus stops, or riders. Also from The Messenger, Ehrlich budget reinstates state funding for Village Learning Place.
Bear Hunt: From the Cumberland Times-News, Maryland Department of Natural Resources to allow 40-55 bears to be hunted in far Western Maryland this year.
Try, Try Again: City still looking for a way to make Pier Six Concert Pavilion successful.
Eh, Wot!? From the Carroll County Times, longtime British Hampstead man imprisoned, faces deportation under Patriot Act due to piddly drug charges.
Carry-out Carnage: Catonsville's Mr. G's Fast Lane perhaps mortally damaged in fire.
Spice It Up: McCormick and Co. reports good news at its stockholder meeting.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Feature Hole
False Profits: I doubt they planned this, but today's Sun houses two features on somewhat odd, ethically questionable ways to make prophets: Tom Pelton innoculates the Curtis Bay medical-waste incinerator, now under new ownership; and Stephanie Desmon butchers Hagerstown prison's meat-processing plant/state moneymaker.
Headlights: In the Towson Times, Bob Allen dodges traffic along with nighttime Beltway construction workers.
Just Pointing This Out: The Dundalk Eagle's Marge Neal swells with pride along with alumni of tiny but spirited Sparrows Point High School. Also in the Eagle, Joseph M. Giordano has one last dance with polka radio show hosts Milton and Connie Brzozowski.
Headlights: In the Towson Times, Bob Allen dodges traffic along with nighttime Beltway construction workers.
Just Pointing This Out: The Dundalk Eagle's Marge Neal swells with pride along with alumni of tiny but spirited Sparrows Point High School. Also in the Eagle, Joseph M. Giordano has one last dance with polka radio show hosts Milton and Connie Brzozowski.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
News Hole
Haven't I Read This Story Before, Like 100 Times: You could of fooled me, but apparently, at least according to this Sun featurey newsy story by Andrew A. Green, but this year's General Assembly session is "rougher than usual". All sarcasm aside, pretty good story. A much shorter but similarly themed story--focusing on the legislative hold-ups on Gov. Ehrlich's executive appointments--from the Post's Matthew Mosk and John Wagner.
Generally Assembled: In other Statehouse news, House rejects abortion-limiting budget amendments (good for them). According to the Post, stem-cell research funding bill has a good chance; nuh-uh, says The Sun (see Political Game link below).
In the Sun's Political Game column, Green and David Nitkin report that lobbyists are trying to concoct a last-minute slots package. Mayor O'Malley gets slammed, rightfully, every time he compares Bush's budget cuts to 9/11, so how about Ehrlich's appointments secretary, Larry Hogan, getting some heat for comparing the Senate's holding up appointments to the Iranian hostage crisis (see Pol. Game link)? Just a thought.
Peace March: From the Independent Media Center, about 300 people marched against war in West Baltimore on Saturday. Pictures.
Mall With a Surveillance Camera: Despite heat from Chamber of Commerce, Baltimore County Council approves shopping-center video cameras. I feel safer already.
Foreign Occupation: According to Pew Hispanic Center study, number of illegal immigrants in Maryland double since 2000.
Double Trouble: Speaking of doubling, Mayor O'Malley says number of city contracts to minorities and women nearly doubled in last four years.
Go Bob! In today's Senate race update, A. Robert Kaufman, a Baltimore activist and perennial candidate, tosses his hat in the ring. There aren't many more Democrats' asses left for Michael Olesker to kiss, are there? I hope not. Today, U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin (3rd) gets smooched. And, in a never-ending series of premature analyses of the race shaping up, here's one from Government Executive.
Hat's Off: Frederick must be pretty damn boring. From the AP, Frederick County commissioner cuts parks department's budget by $35K 'cause an employee wouldn't take his hat off, now apologizing.
Generally Assembled: In other Statehouse news, House rejects abortion-limiting budget amendments (good for them). According to the Post, stem-cell research funding bill has a good chance; nuh-uh, says The Sun (see Political Game link below).
In the Sun's Political Game column, Green and David Nitkin report that lobbyists are trying to concoct a last-minute slots package. Mayor O'Malley gets slammed, rightfully, every time he compares Bush's budget cuts to 9/11, so how about Ehrlich's appointments secretary, Larry Hogan, getting some heat for comparing the Senate's holding up appointments to the Iranian hostage crisis (see Pol. Game link)? Just a thought.
Peace March: From the Independent Media Center, about 300 people marched against war in West Baltimore on Saturday. Pictures.
Mall With a Surveillance Camera: Despite heat from Chamber of Commerce, Baltimore County Council approves shopping-center video cameras. I feel safer already.
Foreign Occupation: According to Pew Hispanic Center study, number of illegal immigrants in Maryland double since 2000.
Double Trouble: Speaking of doubling, Mayor O'Malley says number of city contracts to minorities and women nearly doubled in last four years.
Go Bob! In today's Senate race update, A. Robert Kaufman, a Baltimore activist and perennial candidate, tosses his hat in the ring. There aren't many more Democrats' asses left for Michael Olesker to kiss, are there? I hope not. Today, U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin (3rd) gets smooched. And, in a never-ending series of premature analyses of the race shaping up, here's one from Government Executive.
Hat's Off: Frederick must be pretty damn boring. From the AP, Frederick County commissioner cuts parks department's budget by $35K 'cause an employee wouldn't take his hat off, now apologizing.
Feature Hole
Good News, Bad News: Jamie Smith Hopkins finishes up her three-part Sun series on the local housing market with a look specifically at Baltimore City, where hot neighborhoods, she says, are hiding getting-even-worse ones.
Parish Rwanda: The Sun's Joe Burris oureaches to local Rwandan immigrants with Northeast Baltimore's St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church.
Perfection: In Johns Hopkins Magazine, Brian Simpson tinkers with Team Flaubert leader, and Hopkins visiting professor, Jacques Neefs.
Parish Rwanda: The Sun's Joe Burris oureaches to local Rwandan immigrants with Northeast Baltimore's St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church.
Perfection: In Johns Hopkins Magazine, Brian Simpson tinkers with Team Flaubert leader, and Hopkins visiting professor, Jacques Neefs.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Dream Matchup
When it comes to next year's fight for U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes' seat, political junkies are rooting for Mfume vs. Steele. According to this Sunday Sun story, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele said on Saturday morning, on WBAL Radio, that he's seriously considering running; former congressman/NAACP chief Kweisi Mfume, of course, is already in.
As a Sunday Sun Perspective piece by David Lublin and Thomas F. Schaller points out, however, an Mfume-Steele matchup could be bad news for Democrats, as swing white, moderate voters in the Baltimore suburbs are more likely to vote for a conservative African-American than a liberal one. So look for a big push from pragmatic D's who want to win for one of the Baltimore area's moderate white congressmen, Dutch Ruppersberger or Ben Cardin. Many Dems, however, will insist on an African-American candidate, no matter how it affects their chances in the General Election. Should be interesting
One more Senate race story, then we move on. On Friday, the Washington Blade had a good story on potential Senate candidates' records on pro-gay issues.
As a Sunday Sun Perspective piece by David Lublin and Thomas F. Schaller points out, however, an Mfume-Steele matchup could be bad news for Democrats, as swing white, moderate voters in the Baltimore suburbs are more likely to vote for a conservative African-American than a liberal one. So look for a big push from pragmatic D's who want to win for one of the Baltimore area's moderate white congressmen, Dutch Ruppersberger or Ben Cardin. Many Dems, however, will insist on an African-American candidate, no matter how it affects their chances in the General Election. Should be interesting
One more Senate race story, then we move on. On Friday, the Washington Blade had a good story on potential Senate candidates' records on pro-gay issues.
News Hole
Up in Smoke: City Councilman Robert Curran to propose smoking ban in city restaurants/bars bill tonight.
O'Rumors: For whatever reason, we've been warned continually in the past week or so to be careful of what we e-mail at work. Joseph Steffen and the Ehrlich administration, of course, are finding out the hard way. In this Post story by Matthew Mosk and John Wagner, they take a look at what the recently released Steffen e-mails reveal about hiring/firing at the Maryland Insurance Administration, Steffen's most recent place of employment. The Post has really been killing The Sun on these e-mails. Today, David Montgomery pieces together a really good, really long, must-read profile of Steffen.
Tax Season: Mayor O'Malley proposes a tax cut; Republicans accuse him of playing politics. Probably true, but we'll take it.
Budget Season: State Senate and House start budget process. Washington Times story. No Post budget preview--odd.
De-Probed: Nothing new, but here's the AP story on the conclusion of the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office investigation into City Council ethics lapses. And a decent follow-up story on why white collar/political corruption-type investigations often fall apart, by Matthew Dolan, from Sunday's Sun.
Dismantling: Local preservationists tell Sun architecture critic Edward Gunts that they're concerned about City Council bill that would weaken Baltimore's Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation.
New Villagers: From The Dundalk Eagle, town welcomes new Dundalk Village Shopping Center redevelopers.
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Assateague officials considering thinning island's herd because of damage they're causing. The horses won't be killed, though, they say, but sold or donated to new homes. AP story.
Play Time: From The Messenger, organizers of Waverly community playground on Memorial Stadium site put the call out for 4,000+ volunteers, donations. Sun story.
Future Farmers: From Howard County Times, county strives to save farmland, while state considers cutting tax revenues for doing just that.
Booze Battle: From The Capital, Anne Arundel County old- and new-timers fight over liquor licenses and economic development.
O'Rumors: For whatever reason, we've been warned continually in the past week or so to be careful of what we e-mail at work. Joseph Steffen and the Ehrlich administration, of course, are finding out the hard way. In this Post story by Matthew Mosk and John Wagner, they take a look at what the recently released Steffen e-mails reveal about hiring/firing at the Maryland Insurance Administration, Steffen's most recent place of employment. The Post has really been killing The Sun on these e-mails. Today, David Montgomery pieces together a really good, really long, must-read profile of Steffen.
Tax Season: Mayor O'Malley proposes a tax cut; Republicans accuse him of playing politics. Probably true, but we'll take it.
Budget Season: State Senate and House start budget process. Washington Times story. No Post budget preview--odd.
De-Probed: Nothing new, but here's the AP story on the conclusion of the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office investigation into City Council ethics lapses. And a decent follow-up story on why white collar/political corruption-type investigations often fall apart, by Matthew Dolan, from Sunday's Sun.
Dismantling: Local preservationists tell Sun architecture critic Edward Gunts that they're concerned about City Council bill that would weaken Baltimore's Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation.
New Villagers: From The Dundalk Eagle, town welcomes new Dundalk Village Shopping Center redevelopers.
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Assateague officials considering thinning island's herd because of damage they're causing. The horses won't be killed, though, they say, but sold or donated to new homes. AP story.
Play Time: From The Messenger, organizers of Waverly community playground on Memorial Stadium site put the call out for 4,000+ volunteers, donations. Sun story.
Future Farmers: From Howard County Times, county strives to save farmland, while state considers cutting tax revenues for doing just that.
Booze Battle: From The Capital, Anne Arundel County old- and new-timers fight over liquor licenses and economic development.
Feature Hole
Who's Up for Dundalk? This thoroughly depressing Sun series, by Jamie Smith Hopkins (minisite), on skyrocketing home costs in the Baltimore area makes the The Third Floor wonder if he'll ever be able to afford the house, or at least consider getting a job in PR or something more lucrative.
O'Malley's Last March: The mayor's dissolution of his band produced a few stories over the weekend. The Sun's Eric Siegel checked out a show/fund raiser at Rams Head Live, and produced a rather terrible story. And the Post's David Snyder did a much better job for the the March's St. Patrick's Day show at Recher Theatre.
Unchartered Territory: Daniel de Vise, of the Post, gets edumacated by charter-school starters in Maryland, including Northeast Baltimore's own Bobbi Macdonald, of City Neighbors Charter School.
Just Can't Wait: In Sunday's Sun, Rob Hiaasen doesn't get to see Jack Kerouac's On the Road scroll in Baltimore; it's owned by Public Enemy No. 1's son Jim Irsay.
No-Mart: In Sunday's Sun, they printed an AP story about residents of the Southern Maryland town of Dunkirk's fight against Wal-Mart. They lost, and are getting two of the superstores.
Meat Men: In today's Sun Jill Rosen gets ready for Easter along with the folks at Ostrowski's Famous Polish Sausage.
Exposure: Post art critic Blake Gopnik previews the 48th Corcoran Biennial, focusing on little-known Baltimore artist John Lehr, whose work decorates the exhibition catalog's cover.
O'Malley's Last March: The mayor's dissolution of his band produced a few stories over the weekend. The Sun's Eric Siegel checked out a show/fund raiser at Rams Head Live, and produced a rather terrible story. And the Post's David Snyder did a much better job for the the March's St. Patrick's Day show at Recher Theatre.
Unchartered Territory: Daniel de Vise, of the Post, gets edumacated by charter-school starters in Maryland, including Northeast Baltimore's own Bobbi Macdonald, of City Neighbors Charter School.
Just Can't Wait: In Sunday's Sun, Rob Hiaasen doesn't get to see Jack Kerouac's On the Road scroll in Baltimore; it's owned by Public Enemy No. 1's son Jim Irsay.
No-Mart: In Sunday's Sun, they printed an AP story about residents of the Southern Maryland town of Dunkirk's fight against Wal-Mart. They lost, and are getting two of the superstores.
Meat Men: In today's Sun Jill Rosen gets ready for Easter along with the folks at Ostrowski's Famous Polish Sausage.
Exposure: Post art critic Blake Gopnik previews the 48th Corcoran Biennial, focusing on little-known Baltimore artist John Lehr, whose work decorates the exhibition catalog's cover.
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