A Casino Opening And A Casino Proposal, The Paycheck Fairness Act, A Possible Sewage Spill In The Inner Harbor, and Teaching Suspended Students In Baltimore City Schools

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Democrats are expected to bring the Paycheck Fairness Act to the floor of the US Senate today. The measure aims to curb gender-based pay discrimination; it's got the support of President Obama, and it's being pushed by Democratic Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. The Senator says that, on average, women still make about 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. The Paycheck Fairness Act would permit female employees to seek punative damages from their employers for wage inequality -- and would stop forbid employers from retaliating against their employees for sharing salary information with coworkers. The bill needs 60 votes to move forward, but with most Republicans opposed to it, watchers say likely to be defeated (via our wire service; more here from patch.com).

Harford County Executive David Craig is hoping for a casino in his jurisdiction. Yesterday, the Republican Craig asked a legislative work group studying proposals to expand gambling in the Maryland to consider Harford County for a future gaming site. Craig says the casino would generate millions for the state -- and that he'd set aside the county's portion for teacher pensions and school construction and renovation. Craig acknowledges that a gambling site in Harford could compete with a casino in neighboring Cecil County; the potential for a similar conflict between the "Maryland Live!" Casino set to open tomorrow in Anne Arundel County and one being proposed for National Harbor in Prince Georges County has been a focus of the work group's deliberations. If the group can reach consensus on gambling proposals, Governor Martin O'Malley says he'll call a special session of the General Assembly next month to address them (via our wire service, the Baltimore Sun, and the Baltimore Business Journal).

The "Maryland Live!" Casino in Anne Arundel County got its final nod of approval yesterday from the Maryland Lottery; the parlor's holding its grand opening tomorrow night at 10pm (via the Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Business Journal).

Baltimore City school administrators have shifted from making suspensions the first course of action against students who break the rules. Since 2007, the number of students suspended dropped by more than 34 percent. School officials say it’s more important to keep students in the classroom because studies show that many of those who are suspended for a long time, or expelled, simply drop out. WYPR Education Reporter Gwendolyn Glenn visited two city schools designed for expelled and long-term suspended students... and brings us this report.

Baltimore City Council President "Jack" Young unveiled a budget proposal yesterday -- one that will keep all the city's recreation centers and fire companies open. He says he'll pay for teh spending by removing 7 million dollars from city agencies' budgets and eliminating more than 50 vacant positions. Young also expects more revenue from city traffic cameras than the Mayor's budget predicts will come in (via the Baltimore Sun). 

 More than three-thousand Baltimore speed camera tickets are being thrown out, after a major error was found on them. City officials say thousands of people mistakenly received tickets between December and April for alleged offenses along Wabash Avenue near Rogers Avenue. The camera in question was actually on Wabash near Ridgewood Road, so the 40-dollar citations have been rendered void (via our wire service).

What's that smell? is a question being asked by environmental group "Blue Water Baltimore" -- as it investigates a pungent odor at Baltimore's Inner Harbor near the Domino Sugar Plant. Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper David Flores says it appears a sewage spill is to blame, based on the foul aroma and the greyish tinge he's observed in the water (via the Baltimore Sun).

Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold is asking the County Council to pass "Connor's Law," named after a five-year-old boy who drowned at the Crofton Country Club pool (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

Folks in Baltimore County are still cleaning up after Friday's storm system that blew at lest nine tornadoes through Maryland. No deaths were reported during the unusual weather (via our wire service).

In sports news: the Orioles begin a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox tonight; the O's are hoping to bounce back from a series of losses over the weekend to Tampa Bay.

And: the horse that won the Preakness Stakes AND the Kentucky Derby could make history at this weekend's Belmont Stakes in New York. If "I'll Have Another" wins the race, he'll be the first horse to win all three legs of the triple crown since 1978.