Maryland bill would ban balloon releases

Letting a balloon float away in Maryland would draw in a fine of $250, under a bill sponsored by Sen. Clarence Lam, D-Howard and Baltimore counties, legislation that is similar to a Queen Anne’s County law.

Franchot announces largest tobacco bust in agency history

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot on Wednesday announced the agency’s largest tobacco bust ever, resulting in over $450,000 worth of seized contraband tobacco products.

Deadline nears for Maryland uninsured-motorist debt amnesty

Marylanders with debts for uninsured penalties have until Dec. 31 to take advantage of a program that forgives 80 percent of uninsured-driving debts that became delinquent before 2017.

New trial date set, records made public in Capital Gazette trial

The Capital Gazette shooting trial has been rescheduled for early March, just as court documents with information ranging from references to DNA testing to notes about the defendant’s veterinary history recently became publicly available.

Md. lawmakers announce $2.2 billion school construction plan

Democratic leaders from both the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, along with other officials, announced Wednesday a $2.2 billion plan to build and renovate schools across the state that will be taken up during the 2020 legislative session.

Capital Gazette shooting trial postponed

Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Michael Wachs postponed the Capital Gazette shooting trial Wednesday, after the defense asked for more time to review information provided by the prosecution’s mental health expert witnesses.

Board approves $9 million for five wrongly convicted men

The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved $9 million to award to five men who were wrongly convicted.

Md. lawmakers, officials, union meet on staffing shortages

State union employees told lawmakers Tuesday they are concerned that staff shortages — of about 2,600, according to a 2018 study — are causing safety issues, including some injuries, for employees at certain agencies.

Shooter in Capital Gazette pleads guilty to murder, other counts

The gunman in the Capital Gazette shooting trial pleaded guilty Monday to the murders of journalists Wendi Winters, Gerald Fischman, Robert Hiaasen and John McNamara, as well as advertising assistant Rebecca Smith.

A not-so happy Halloween for Maryland’s struggling bat population

Halloween is known as one of the spookiest times of the year, filled with witches, ghosts, and scattering bats. But Maryland’s flapping, black creatures may be less prevalent this year, like years in the recent past.