ANNAPOLIS – School officials throughout the state are desperately rethinking their hiring practices and compromising on quality as they attempt to fill hundreds of teaching vacancies this year, and forestall the record number expected next year

ANNAPOLIS – Reform Party presidential candidate Pat Buchanan said Friday the recent terrorist bombing of the USS Cole and the increased violence between Israelis and Palestinians should be treated as separate issues

WASHINGTON – A congressional proposal that could save military dogs from their current fate of being put down shortly after their working days are over will come too late for retired Airman 1st Class John Langley

WASHINGTON – Flu vaccinations will be offered at any one of a number of groceries across the state beginning Saturday, at a time when health officials have said that the currently limited supply of flu vaccine should be targeted to those most in need

ANNAPOLIS – When Najat Arafat Khelil left Palestine in 1962, she never thought it would be the last time she would live in her homeland

WASHINGTON – A new study says Maryland’s Medicaid program had the fifth- fastest growth in the nation from June 1997 to December 1999, a gain that state officials hailed as evidence of their “aggressive steps” to reach out to the public

ANNAPOLIS – While Maryland Green Party voters are willing to put their money into their presidential candidate, some may be a little less willing to give Ralph Nader their votes

WASHINGTON – Della Curtis calls it her “shelf of shame” — books culled from Baltimore County school library shelves that should have been tossed years ago

WASHINGTON – In the rush to ensure that all Maryland schools have the latest computer technology, an older educational technology has been left behind — books

WASHINGTON – Maryland’s “smart growth” effort to limit sprawl won a national Innovation in American Government Award on Thursday, one of 10 government programs from across the country so honored