Anne Arundel County News: Traffic, Schools, Crime, Government & More – The Washington Post

Duncan: Leggett a ‘very passive’ Montgomery County executive

Bill Turque — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:10:32 GMT

County Executive Isiah Leggett has yet to announce whether he will seek a third term in 2014, but that hasn’t stopped Doug Duncan from running hard against him to reclaim the office he left seven years ago.

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O’Malley introduces ‘resolute’ Obama at Naval Academy graduation

John Wagner — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:14:39 GMT

The task of introducing President Obama to the 2013 graduating class at the U.S. Naval Academy fell Friday to Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is weighing a bid to succeed him.

In remarks at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, O’Malley (D) praised Obama (D) as “a thoughtful and resolute” leader and said the graduates were well-prepared to serve in both the military and the country’s workforce.

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Looking to get rid of blight? Adam Ortiz wants to hear from you in Prince George’s

Miranda S. Spivack — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:51:23 GMT

Prince George’s County’s showcase demolition of an abandoned house in Landover has brought forth more than a dozen new requests for help in ridding neighborhoods of blight.

Acting Department of Environmental Resources director Adam Ortiz said that at least three houses have been identified by residents as possible candidates for demolition, and at least 10 other requests have come in since last week for the county to look into illegal dumping, overgrown yards and abandoned properties.

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Montgomery County Council unanimously approves fiscal 2014 budget

Bill Turque — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:07:08 GMT

The Montgomery County Council gave formal approval Thursday to a $4.8 billion operating budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The spending plan, a 4.1 percent increase over the current fiscal year, includes pay raises averaging 7 to 10 percent for unionized fire, police and non-uniform employees. The average homeowner will see property taxes increase by $80 a year. The new budget also expands the number of police on the streets and in schools, while also increasing some library hours.

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Katie O’Malley fashion spread featured in Baltimore Style magazine

John Wagner — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:45:32 GMT

Maryland first lady Catherine Curran O’Malley shows off her glamorous side in the pages of the June issue of Baltimore Style magazine.

O’Malley is the subject of a photo spread, with Vogue-like fashion shots taken inside and outside Government House, the Georgian-style mansion in Annapolis where she lives with her husband, Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), and their children.

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Prince George’s officials say progress made at Las Vegas retail convention

Miranda S. Spivack — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:18 GMT

Prince George’s top economic development officials say they are detecting signs of new interest from retailers.

Wrapping up a five-day trip to Las Vegas for a major retail convention, both David Iannucci and Gwen McCall said a county booth at the International Council of Shopping Centers convention logged about 200 unplanned visits from prospective retailers.

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Prince George’s seeks more subscribers to its emergency alert notification system

Miranda S. Spivack — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:01:00 GMT

Prince George’s County officials are encouraging residents to sign up for its NotifyMe alert system that provides real-time information about everything from weather emergencies to traffic jams.

Registered subscribers are provided with notifications by e-mail, text and page. County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) said in a statement that he hoped that the recent destructive tornadoes in the Midwest would prompt more residents to take steps to be prepared for natural disasters, including signing up for the county alert system.

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O’Malley hosts fundraiser for New Hampshire senator Jeanne Shaheen

John Wagner — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:24:40 GMT

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is co-hosting a fundraiser Tuesday night for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), an event certain to add to the buzz about O’Malley’s presidential ambitions, given that Shaheen hails from New Hampshire.

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Former Baltimore County executive in talks about Maryland transportation secretary job

John Wagner — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:01:00 GMT

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is in renewed discussions with former Baltimore County executive James T. Smith Jr. (D) about becoming state transportation secretary, according to several people familiar with the talks.

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Longtime O’Malley aide Raquel Guillory leaving

John Wagner — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:03:00 GMT

Raquel Guillory, a longtime aide to Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), is leaving her job as communications director in the governor’s office for a post at the Department of Business and Economic Development.

Guillory will start next month as an assistant secretary at DBED overseeing marketing and communications. The department is responsible for recruiting new businesses to Maryland and fostering a positive environment for those already in the state.

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Rep. John Delaney endorses Doug Duncan for Montgomery County executive

Bill Turque — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:48:00 GMT

With the state legislature adjourned and county budget deliberations all but complete, Montgomery’s 2014 political season is starting to heat up.

Former county executive Doug Duncan, seeking to reclaim the office he held for three terms (1994-2006), held his first major public event Sunday, a picnic fundraiser where he received the endorsement of Rep. John Delaney (D-Md).

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Montgomery budget leaves list of ‘needs’ on table

Bill Turque — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:59:06 GMT

An additional therapist for the child and adolescent mental health clinic: $72,000.

More resources for child custody mediation and supervised visitation: $230,000.

An expanded contract with CASA de Maryland for tenant counseling: $50,000.

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Prince George’s tearing down blighted, foreclosed houses, stepping up code enforcement

Miranda S. Spivack — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:18:00 GMT

As the Prince George’s County Council debates details of the $2.7 billion budget, there is one issue where all appear to agree: The time has come to redo the county’s code enforcement and permitting system.

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Prince George’s Council delays final budget decisions until May 30, chairman says

Miranda S. Spivack — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:54:00 GMT

The Prince George’s County Council is delaying a final vote on the county’s budget for a week.

County Council Chairman Andrea C. Harrison(D-Springdale) said that the council was still trying to sort out funding for several items, including a new, $27 million police department headquarters, and also trying to figure out a way to avoid employee furloughs. County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) had recommended up to five days of furloughs for most of the county’s 6,000 employees to help balance the budget.

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Maryland legislative hearing on prisons moved up to June 6

John Wagner — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:37:28 GMT

Maryland lawmakers have rescheduled a hearing prompted by problems at a Baltimore jail for June 6, two weeks earlier than previously announced.

The meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee, made up of leading House and Senate members, will be the first formal public hearing since last month’s federal indictments of 25 inmates and corrections guards on racketeering and other charges.

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O’Malley: Purple Line, other Washington area projects to benefit from gas tax increase

John Wagner — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:19:20 GMT

As he signed legislation Thursday raising Maryland’s gas tax, Gov. Martin O’Malley identified an initial $1.2 billion in new road and transit projects that he said the new revenue will make possible, including several in the Washington region.

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Barn dance music enlivens lengthy Maryland bill signing ceremony

John Wagner — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:49:25 GMT

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) introduced a new twist at Thursday’s bill-signing ceremony in Annapolis: barn dance music.

For much of the two-hour event, a compact disc by The Barn Owl Band was piped into the governor’s reception room as he and legislative leaders signed more than 250 bills into law.

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Signing of Md. gun control bill to launch new legal battles, fight for public support

Aaron C. Davis — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:08:00 GMT

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley will sign into law one of the nation’s strictest gun-control measures Thursday, a major victory after months of contentious debate during this year’s legislative session.

But the signing of the law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, isn’t the end of the fight. A new battle begins to convince judges and voters that it was the right response to last year’s school shootings in Newtown, Conn.

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O’Malley plans to sign Maryland gun-control, transportation bills Thursday

John Wagner — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:10:19 GMT

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) plans to sign more than 250 bills into law on Thursday, including one of the most sweeping gun-control packages in the country and a plan to raise taxes on gas to yield more money for transportation projects.

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Brown to stand in for O’Malley at Preakness trophy presentation Saturday

John Wagner — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:48:54 GMT

Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), who announced his campaign for governor last week, should get some national television exposure Saturday: He is scheduled to present the trophy to the winner of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

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Montgomery Council asks Leggett to tighten up on employee leave and overtime rules

Bill Turque — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:13:00 GMT

The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday endorsed a series of recommendations based on a recent report that said lax management and abuse of sick leave policies have cost the county tens of millions in overtime pay.

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Panel gives preliminary approval to new Pr. George’s police HQ

Miranda S. Spivack — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:27:36 GMT

The Prince George’s County Police Department is a step closer to buying a $27 million headquarters after a County Council committee gave preliminary approval to the plan Tuesday.

The council’s public safety committee approved a lease/purchase agreement for properties in Suitland that several years ago had been sought by the school system for its headquarters.

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Md. delegate sentenced to 30 days in jail for drunken boating charge, plans appeal

John Wagner — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Maryland Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr. was given a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday for a drunken boating charge related to a collision in August that left seven people injured, including a 5-year-old girl who suffered skull fractures.

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Leggett cautions Montgomery council to trim proposed adds to budget

Bill Turque — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:27:00 GMT

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett is asking the County Council to trim its proposed additions to the fiscal 2014 budget, warning that excessive new spending could jeopardize progress in stabilizing the county’s finances.

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Maryland delegate Dwyer will plead guilty to drunken boating charge, lawyer says

John Wagner — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:45:00 GMT

An attorney for Maryland Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr. said Monday that his client has secured a plea deal with prosecutors that will not result in jail time for a drunken boating charge.

Under the deal, which must be approved by a district court judge, Dwyer will plead guilty Tuesday to operating a boat under the influence of alcohol. Four other charges related to an August collision that injured seven people will be dropped, said Dwyer’s attorney, David Fischer, who appeared with the delegate at a news conference.

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