Maryland

State Health Officials Ready to Answer President’s Smallpox Vaccination Call

WASHINGTON – Maryland officials said they should have no problem meeting President Bush’s mid-February deadline for vaccinating up to 6,000 medical personnel who would be the first to respond to any outbreak of smallpox in the state

Dwindling Oyster Harvest Doesn’t Diminish Skipjack’s Lure

CHESTERTOWN – From sunrise to sunset, twice a week, Richard Person kneels in freezing weather, raking through mud, seaworn rocks and shells to cull live oysters

CareFirst Defends Executive Compensation in Merger

ANNAPOLIS – CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield continued its fight this week against criticism of its efforts to complete a conversion to a for-profit company by sending a clear message to one critic in particular

Pepco, Pipeline Company Agree to Repair Habitat Damaged in 2000 Oil Spill

WASHINGTON – Pepco and government officials announced a final plan Thursday to restore Patuxent River habitat that was damaged two years ago by an oil pipeline leak that damaged 17 miles of Southern Maryland shoreline

Maryland, D.C., Virginia to Get Their Very Own Homeland Security Officer

WASHINGTON – Maryland will “have a seat at the table” in the new Homeland Security Department because of a provision, tucked into the bill, creating a directorate of national security who will work with Washington-area governments

State Plans to Vaccinate Teams of Health Care Workers Against Smallpox Attack

WASHINGTON – Maryland health officials plan to vaccinate 5,500 health care workers and have started recruiting volunteers for the teams that would be the first line of defense against any bioterror attack using the disease

Maryland Overdose Deaths Rise 16 Percent

ANNAPOLIS – Drug- and alcohol-overdose deaths have risen sharply in Maryland since 1997, according to a study released last week

Maryland Not Ready to Give Up in Fight With Virginia Over Potomac River

WASHINTON – Maryland Attorney General J