Ballot Measures, Lead Paint Poisoning, Meningitis, Bedbugs, and "Hoodwinked"

Backers and opponents of same-sex marriage take their messages to the TV airways next week, in advance of the November election where Maryland voters decide whether to permit same-sex marriage in our state (via the Baltimore Sun).

More money's being spent to influence voters opinions on "Question 7" -- the ballot measure that would expand Maryland's casino gambling program by permitting a casino in Prince George's County and allowing table games at casinos around the state. Yesterday, MGM Resorts announced that it's spent more than $14.6-million supporting the gambling measure -- up about half a million dollars from the week before. Another gambling interest, Penn National Gaming, has spent even more cash opposing the "Question 7" -- as of Wednesday, Penn National had spent almost $17.9-million to persuade voters to go against the ballot measure (via the Baltimore Sun). 

In today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics, Fraser Smith talks to Alexander Pyles from The Daily Record about Governor O'Malley's attention to "Question 7."

Frederick County voters have a local ballot question facing them in November -- whether to change their form of government from a Board of Commissioners to a charter-based government with a County Executive and County Council (via the Gazette).

The new documentary film "Hoodwinked" is making the rounds at many historically black college campuses nationwide... and it has students talking. The film challenges many of the negative statistics and reports that have been released over the years about African Americans -- especially black men. The film was shown at Baltimore City Community College last week... and in this report, WYPR's Gwendolyn Glenn talks with the film's producer and some of the BCCC students who saw it.

Maryland health officials are reaching out to hundreds of patients who may have received a steroid injection that is linked to a multi-state outbreak of meningitis (via our wire service, the Frederick News Post, and the Gazette). 

A new report from the State Environment Department says that fewer Maryland children were poisoned by lead-based paint last year than any year since the state started tracking lead poisioning cases (via the Baltimore Sun).

The University of Maryland College Park is dealing with a bedbug problem in South Campus Commons 7. Those living in Commons 7 are now living out of bags while exterminators try to get rid of the bugs (via our wire service and the Diamondback).

The 35-hour workweek is gradually coming to an end for the employees of Frederick County. Yesterday, the county's Board of Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to require all new hires to work 40 hours a week... Commissioner Billy Shreve, who proposed the longer workweek, said that the move will increase productivity, and allow the County to shrink its workforce. Most Frederick County employees already have 40 hour workweeks... only about 2/5 of county workers are on the 35 hour schedule, and those workers won't see any changes (via the Frederick News Post). 

And in sports: Orioles fans are hoping for a win tonight in the American League Wild Card game, where the O's take on the Texas Rangers. If they win tonight, the Orioles will play against the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Also on Sunday: the Ravens play an afternoon away game against the Kansas City Chiefs.