MD Delegates React To Romney's Acceptance Speech, A Drum Corps Practice, and "Teachers Speak"

Maryland's delegation to the Republican National Convention liked what they heard last night during GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney's acceptance speech. But many of those delegates aren't so confident that they'll be able to put Maryland into the Romney column come November. Indeed, history isn't on their side. The last time Maryland went Republican was 1988. But there is some hope to be found in THAT election, as WYPR’s Art Buist reports. There are more reactions from Maryland delegates to Romney's speech here from marylandreporter.com. The Democratic National Convention takes place next week, and Maryland's democratic delegation is preparing to head to Charlotte for it. Both Governor Martin O'Malley and Senator Barbara Mikulski will have speaking roles at the event. 

This week marks the beginning of a new school year for Baltimore city’s public schools. During the summer vacation, WYPR’s Gwendolyn Glenn talked with a few of the district’s teachers about various education issues and concerns some of them have about life in the classroom. In part two of our Teachers Speak series, veteran teachers discuss some challenges they face and offer advice to this year’s new teachers. We begin with Bradley Nornhold, a seventh and eighth grade math teacher at Kipp Ujima Village Academy. 

For nearly half a century, Labor Day weekend has meant, for drum and bugle corps fans, Drum Corps Associates, or DCA, national championships. Usually it’s in cities like Scranton or Rochester. But this year, they’re coming to Annapolis, the first time the championships have been held south of the Mason Dixon line. WYPR’s resident drum corps nut, Joel McCord, spent last weekend with his favorite corps and has this report.

On today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics, The Baltimore Sun's Andy Rosen talks with Fraser Smith about squabbles over development in Owings Mills.

State tax collections were 230-million-dollars higher than projections during the fiscal year that ended June 30th (via our wire service, the Baltimore Sun, and the Daily Record).

The Perry Hall High School shooting victim is scheduled to undergo more surgery today as he recovers from his injuries. Daniel Borowy underwent surgery soon after arriving at the hospital, and remains in critical condition. Borowy was shot in the back in the school cafeteria by 15-year-old Robert Gladden, who was arrested moments after the shooting. Gladden is being prosecuted as an adult (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

Federal regulators have denied a license for a proposed third nuclear reactor at Calvert Cliffs. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board voted down the application of French-controlled UniStar Nuclear Energy yesterday. The Board is giving the company 60 days to find a U.S. partner (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

The Indycars will begin racing along Charm City's streets today, as the Grand Prix of Baltimore gets underway. A two-mile stretch of roads near Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor has been transformed into a road racing course. The races run today through Sunday. Officials are expecting smaller crowds at this year's event than they saw at the Inaugural Grand Prix last year. There's information about the downtown streets that are closed here.

Some 1.8-million vehicles are expected to pass through the state's toll facilities before the Labor Day weekend is over. Transportation officials urge you to head out during non-peak times to avoid delays. Holiday travel information is online here.

And in sports: the Ravens lost yesterday's final preseason game to the St. Louis Rams; the score was 31 to 17. The Orioles were more fortunate -- they beat the Chicago White Sox 5 to 3 in yesterday's game. The O's take on the New York Yankees tonight.