Local Police Departments Not Hurt — Yet — by Congressional Budget Inaction

WASHINGTON – State and local law enforcement officials are keeping a close watch on the federal budget, after the Justice Department said this month it cannot send any new grant money to states until Congress authorizes spending

Community Colleges Begin to Look Overseas for Potential Students

WASHINGTON – Diane Drake of the Community College of Baltimore County does not usually have to tell prospective students where Baltimore County is — or what a community college is, for that matter

Oyster Harvest May Plummet to New Low

ANNAPOLIS – Maryland’s oyster harvest could sink below historic lows this winter, scientists say, as the state continues to study solutions to a problem both economic and ecological

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

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

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

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