BALTIMORE – For someone involved in Maryland politics for the past several decades, American Joe Miedusiewski seems to have made remarkably few enemies

ANNAPOLIS – When a north-central Maryland middle school student broke his hand at school, the emergency room said he needed orthopedic care

ANNAPOLIS – Chemical companies are fighting against a bill approved by House lawmakers last month that would ban the manufacture, sale or distribution of products containing a common but potentially toxic flame retardant

ANNAPOLIS – In an effort to prevent domestic violence and close a loophole in federal law, Maryland lawmakers want criminal background checks available on men who pay to meet mail-order or Internet brides through marriage brokers

ANNAPOLIS – A bill outlawing the use of dead soldiers’ identities for commercial purposes is expected to reach the governor’s desk after being amended to alleviate free speech concerns

ANNAPOLIS – Lawmakers want to prohibit long-term care insurers from using genetic tests to determine coverage, but a compromise forged with insurance companies could allow limited use of previously taken tests

ANNAPOLIS – A bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing a task force to study gypsy moth infestation and ways to control it before it gets any worse, but arborists and environmentalists want to be better represented

ANNAPOLIS – Housing counselors can significantly reduce a family’s chance of losing a home to the recent spate of mortgage foreclosures, but a high demand for the service in Maryland is straining some nonprofit agencies

ANNAPOLIS – Fliers proclaiming House Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Vallario, Jr

ANNAPOLIS – Some lawmakers want to withhold state aid from local governments with sanctuary policies that prohibit employees and police officers from asking someone’s immigration status