Cell Phones Behind The Wheel, Rawlings-Blake To Become DNC Secretary, and Ravens Ratings

As Maryland lawmakers get back to work today in Annapolis, one issue they'll examine is cell phones -- and the state law that bans the use of hand held cell phones while driving. Baltimore County Delegate James Malone Jr. is introducing a bill that would allow police to pull over a driver for talking on a hand held cell phone (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

A class action suit has been filed against Maryland, alleging that the Department of Human Resources routinely drags its heels in approving medical assistance applications in violation of state law (via the Baltimore Sun).

Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake appears poised to become the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee. The leadership post would give Rawlings-Blake a high profile position within the national Democratic party. An official announcement is expected today (via the Baltimore Sun).

The misconduct trial of Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold resumes today. Leopold was indicted last year on charges of misconduct and misappropriation of county resources (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

The Maryland Department of the Environment is getting set to hold public hearing on plans for a controversial waste-to-energy incinerator in Frederick County. The meeting is scheduled for January 30th, and it's going to start earlier than a similar hearing held in August -- at which many of the 100-plus people who showed up didn't have time to speak. The Environment Department says the upcoming hearing will not end until everyone who wants to comment does (via the Gazette).

Officials with the Edgar Allan Poe home are hoping the site will reopen to the public this fall (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun). 

The Orioles are working on plans to honor former manager Earl Weaver, who died Saturday at the age of 82 (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

Arctic air has moved into the Baltimore area... and forecasters aren't expecting temperatures to get above the freezing mark until the weekend. For today, forecasters are calling for bitterly cold conditions with high temperatures in the 20s... high winds will put make it feel like it's in the single digits. It won't get out of the 20s tomorrow or on Thursday or on Friday -- when forecasters predict that we could get some snow or sleet. And it'll still be below freezing on Saturday... when the Maryland State Police plans to hold its 17th annual Polar Bear Plunge. The frigid fun begins at 1 p.m. in Sandy Point State Park, near Annapolis. The fundraiser benefits intellectually-disabled adults and children. If you want to take part, you can register at PlungeMD.com.

And: Sunday's AFC Championship Game between the Ravens and Patriots brought in big ratings. The NFL says the Ravens' victory drew 47.7-million viewers, making it the most-watched TV show since last year's Super Bowl. The Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers in this year's Super Bowl on February 3rd in New Orleans (via our wire service and the Baltimore Business Journal). And if you're planning on going, and don't yet have a ticket, you can expect to shell out the big bucks; the Super Bowl tickets on the secondary market are averaging more than $3-thousand apiece (via the Baltimore Business Journal).