The G-8 Summit Moves To Frederick County, More On MD's Overturned Gun Law, Teacher Evaluation, and "Fracking"

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

President Barack Obama will be hosting this year's G-8 summit in Maryland -- at Camp David, in Frederick County. The summit was originally supposed to take place in Chicago. Frederick County officials say they'll work with federal agencies to coordinate planning for the event (via our wire service, the Frederick News Post, and the Baltimore Sun). 

The Federal Court decision that overturns a portion of Maryland's gun control law is expected to be upheld on appeal. That's the analysis of constitutional lawyers, speaking to the Baltimore Sun. The overturned rule required that citizens show a "good and substantial reason" to get a concealed carry permit; the judge ruled that the language QUOTE "impermissibly infringes on the [Second Amendment] right to keep and bear arms." The state attorney general's office says it will appeal that decision, but there's no timeline yet for the process (via the Baltimore Sun; more here from the Frederick News Post).  

 Anne Arundel County's largest police union is calling for the resignations of County Executive John Leopold and Police Chief James Teare. Fraternal Order of Police members voted overwhelmingly last night to express no confidence in Leopold and Teare. Two other police unions have already called for the two to step down. Leopold was indicted Friday for allegedly using his security detail to promote his re-election and to arrange sexual encounters (via our wire service, the Annapolis Capital, and the Baltimore Sun). 

Some lawmakers wanted to put drilling for natural gas on hold in Western Maryland last year to await studies on how best to regulate it. But the measure stalled in the Senate. Shortly after that, Governor Martin O’Malley created a study commission to do the same thing. But there is no money in the budget to do the study. Now, lawmakers are trying to come up with that money. WYPR’s Joel McCord reports. 

Local education officials say they are making progress in working to develop new state-mandated evaluation methods for teachers, which for the first time seek to tie student growth and test scores to a teacher’s performance rating. Seven school districts are taking part in a teacher evaluation pilot program; it'll be rolled out statewide next year. Two of the systems taking part in the program are those in Baltimore city and Baltimore County. WYPR’s Gwendolyn Glenn tells us how the pilot is going.

A State Senate committee hears testimony today on a couple of bills to raise taxes on some tobacco products (via the Washington Post).

The Baltimore area's two largest supermarket chains are recruiting temporary workers due to a possible labor dispute. Giant Food and Safeway are negotiating with a union that represents 23-thousand employees. Union leaders said there has been little progress in negotiations; the current agreement expires at the end of the month (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun). 

 Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is backing a plan to fine homeowners who take homestead credits on their property tax bills that they're not entitled to (via the Baltimore Sun).