New Year's Day Schedule Changes, Same-Sex Marriage, and Remembering Baltimore's Homicide Victims Of 2012

It's the first day of 2013. Many Marylanders were up late last ringing in the new year; and for most, there's no hurry to get back up today, as there's not much going on in our state. The Baltimore Sun has a complete rundown here; a truncated overview is as follows:

Schools, courts, banks, and public libraries are closed... Federal, state, and local government offices are closed as well. There's no regular mail delivery from the post office... although express mail is still going out. There's no regular trash or recycling pickup around the state; if you live in Baltimore City, your makeup day is Saturday. There are no MARC trains or commuter buses. Holiday schedules are in effect for local MTA buses, the light rail, and the Metro Subway.And it's a parking meter holiday in most jurisdictions, including Baltimore City and Baltimore County -- so there's no need to feed the meters if you end up going out today.

A new law allowing same sex couples to get married goes into effect in Maryland today. The law officially took effect at midnight, and early this morning same sex couples began tying the knot in ceremonies across the state. In Baltimore, City Hall was open early this morning so that seven same-sex couples could take their vows. Analysts say that legal same sex marriage is likely to bring gay couples into Maryland; they say the state's economy could see a 90-million-dollar boost every year from same sex weddings. But while Maryland now recognizes same-sex marriage, the federal government does not. The U.S. Supreme Court may issue a decision in the first half of 2013 that could result in federal benefits for same sex spouses (via our wire service; more here and here from the Baltimore Sun, here from the Frederick News Post, and here from the Daily Record). 

2012 saw 19 20 more homicides in Baltimore than the year before, and a candlelight vigil was held last night to remember those who died. The names of each of the men, women and children who were killed during the year were read aloud during the somber remembrance at the city War Memorial. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts were among the city officials in attendance (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

The parent company of the Baltimore Sun emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday... but what it means for the Sun in 2013 remains to be seen. The Tribune Company is reportedly planning to sell most of its eight major daily newspapers, one of which is the Sun. A Tribune spokesperson declined requests for comment yesterday. Details could come out after the Tribune Company's new board of directors meets in the next several weeks (via NPR and the Baltimore Business Journal).