ANNAPOLIS – House lawmakers gave a cool reception Tuesday to a bill that would let pet owners sue for emotional suffering if their pet dies from intentional abuse
Instructions Did Not Taint Jury in Murder Case, Court Rules
ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Court of Special Appeals upheld a teen’s murder and robbery convictions, even though the judge in his trial told jurors they did not have to determine guilt or innocence “to any degree of certainty
Maryland’s Fire Death Total Second-Lowest in 23 Years
ANNAPOLIS – Maryland fire deaths rose slightly last year but were still the second-lowest number since 1975, according to a report released Monday by the Maryland State Fire Marshal
Senate Approves Bill to Give an Income Tax Break to the Poor
ANNAPOLIS – The Senate approved and sent to the House Friday a bill that would help poor Marylanders by giving an income tax break to families living below the federal poverty line
Lawmakers Use Kids, Props, Pleas in Pork-Barrel Bids
ANNAPOLIS – No matter what projects they pitched — parks, adult day care centers or therapeutic equestrian centers — lawmakers politely referred to them as “worthy legislative initiatives
Gay-Rights Proposal Riles Religious Groups
ANNAPOLIS – A proposal to protect gays from discrimination under the state’s human rights law sparked an outcry Friday from religious groups who questioned the state’s role in protecting homosexuals
COPS Program No Panacea, But Locals Say Thanks, Anyway
ANNAPOLIS – Its promise to put 100,000 cops on the street nationwide was somewhat misleading, its duration is limited and it has imposed unpublicized costs on local governments
Scientists Fear Human Cloning Bill Could Stunt Disease Research
ANNAPOLIS – Lawmakers moved quickly last week to kill a “well-intentioned” bill to limit human cloning experiments, after scientists warned that it might unwittingly stifle research on Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer
Maryland Reduces Welfare Caseloads, But People Still Need Help
WASHINGTON – While Maryland’s overall welfare caseload has dropped sharply, a state official told Congress that many of those leaving the system still depend on government programs like food stamps and Medicaid