MD's Budget Forecast, Hiring Plans At "Horseshoe Baltimore," Baltimore's Zoning Code, and Elev8 Baltimore

State officials say the latest projections show Maryland going into the coming fiscal year with a deficit of just $27-million. That's good news -- considering that lawmakers have had to close budget gaps bigger than a billion dollars in recent years (via our wire service, the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Examiner). 

The operators of the coming "Horseshoe Baltimore" casino plan to begin hiring within the next three to four months. A spokesman for Caesars Entertainment says the company is working with Baltimore's Office of Employment Development to plan how best to make the hires -- and says it wants to hire Baltimore residents for the jobs. When it's up and running, the casino says it plans to employ 17-hundred employees -- it's unclear how many jobs will be available in the first round of hiring (via the Baltimore Business Journal).

Baltimore is getting ready to replace its decades-old zoning code. Baltimore's Planning Department is holding a series of public meetings this week on the proposed changes. Mayor Rawlings-Blake says the overhaul will help the city's population to start growing again, by promoting mixed-use pedestrian-friendly communities (via the Baltimore Sun). A programming note: we'll talk with Baltimore's Planning Director about the city's zoning code, this morning at 9, on Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast.

Former Prince George's County delegate Tiffany Alston is apparently planning to go to court in an attempt to continue serving in the House of Delegates. This, after an Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge yesterday modified Alston's one-year suspended jail sentance to a probation before judgement, effectively strking her earlier conviction from the record. Last month, the General Assembly's top lawyer said that Maryland law automatically removed Alston from her post (via the Washington Post and the Gazette).

In October, the U.S. Department of Education recognized Elev8 Chicago and Elev8 Baltimore for their efforts to turn around low-performing middle schools in low-income areas. In East Baltimore, through partnerships with community groups, Elev8 Baltimore officials provide after-school programs for students and services for them and their families. In this report, WYPR’s Gwendolyn Glenn visits an Elev8 Baltimore school to see how the program is working.

On today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics, WYPR Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith talks to Alexander Pyles from The Daily Record about Senate President Mike Miller, the 6th casino, and its financial projections that have been thrown around. 

Maryland health officials have issued new breast feeding recommendations for mothers and their newborns (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

An Anne Arundel County councilman is being accused of accosting and berating voters as they waited to cast ballots on Election Day. Republican Councilman John Grasso admits that he got into verbal confrontations with some voters, but claims each was in response to rude behavior by those voters (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

A Baltimore bus driver is being suspended after a fight with a passenger (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun). 

Baltimore City officials say that parking enforcment officers issued 169 tickets during the 18-hour parking ban imposed by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake, as Hurricane Sandy blew through our region two weeks ago (via the Baltimore Sun).

The Montgomery County Council has unanmously approved two measures aimed at expanding Capital Bikeshare into Montgomery County (via our wire service).

Hagerstown city officials are extending their lease agreement with the Suns baseball team (via our wire service and the Washington Post).