More Money Backing "Question 7," Black Churches Split On Same-Sex Marriage, and "The Lines Between Us"

Baltimore's inspector general is finding significant irregularities in the city's $675-thousand purchase of phone and computer equipment. (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has announced a task force that will review the city's speed and red light camera programs (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

When it was confirmed that Maryland’s law allowing same sex marriage would be put before voters, many thought African American clergy would be solidly opposed. But the referendum question has exposed a rift between black pastors, as WYPR’s Joel McCord reports.

The Caesars Entertainment-backed group that holds a Maryland casino license has been given 30 extra days to reach a legal agreement with the city of Baltimore (via the Baltimore Sun). 

Casino giant MGM resorts has added another $3-million in support of "Question 7" -- the ballot measure that would expand Maryland's casino gambling program (via the Washington Post).

A poll out this week by Gonzales Research and Marketing Strategies indicates that Maryland voters are closely divided on the gambling measure. On today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics, WYPR Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith talks with WYPR's Karen Hosler about the poll.

Today marks the beginning of a year-long WYPR series about inequality in the Baltimore region. It’s called “The Lines Between Us,” and it will air every Friday at 9am on Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast. Part of today’s Lines Between Us episode will be this story, told by Sheldon Caplis. He grew up in northwest Baltimore during the civil rights movement, and learned a lifelong lesson about race from his father. 

A Prince George's County Delegate has announced that he's leaving the General Assembly. Delegate Justin Ross announced yesterday that he's retiring to spend more time with his family, and work on building his real-estate business. A replacement for Ross will be recommended by the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee within the next month (via the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun). 

A painting by French impressionist Renoir that was bought for $7 at a West Virginia flea market was set to go to auction, but that auction has been cancelled -- after records show the painting was stolen from the Baltimore Museum of Art in 1951 (via our wire service and the Washington Post).

A popular Harford County landmark is turning pink, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The historic Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace will be illuminated in pink tonight -- and every night -- through the end of October (via our wire service and the Havre de Grace Patch).

The first helicopter has landed at Frederick Memorial Hospital's new helipad (via the Frederick News Post).

In sports news this morning: the Orioles begin their final home series of the regular season tonight; the game against the Boston Red Sox is set to start at 7:05pm.

And: the Ravens won last night's game against the Cleveland Browns; the score was 23 to 16. The Ravens play next in Kansas City on October 7.