Offshore Wind, Death Penalty Repeal, Baltimore's Financial Future, and A Push For Stronger Penalties For Celebratory Gunfire

Last night's wintry weather has prompted some schools to open late; our current list is here.

Governor Martin O'Malley and State Senate President Mike Miller headlined a rally yesterday afternoon in support of a wind farm off the coast of Ocean City. O'Malley says the initiative could create thousands of new jobs (via the Baltimore Sun).

People who want to be the next Anne Arundel County Executive have until tomorrow to apply for the post -- and so far, only one candidate has filed the paperwork. The County Executive's post was opened up by the resignation of John Leopold earlier this month; the County Council will vote next week on who will serve out the rest of his term (via the Baltimore Sun).

The family of a girl killed by celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve is calling for stronger penalties for those who fire festive shots into the air. The family of Aaliyah Boyer says a bullet fell from the sky and struck her in the top of the head in Cecil County. In most places firing celebratory gunfire is only a misdemeanor, while in rural areas such as the one where Boyer was killed there is no restriction at all (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

As public hearings open today on the latest effort to repeal Maryland’s death penalty, prospects for passage look good. And as WYPR's Karen Hosler reports, part of the credit goes to a resurgence of the nation’s oldest civil rights group.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake wants to get out ahead of a coming financial tsunami. WYPR’s Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith comments in his weekly essay.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is defending her proposal to impose a fee on residents for trash collection. The Mayor says the fee would let the city reduce property taxes -- and that could help attract residents from area cities and towns (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

A destructive beetle is showing up again at the Port of Baltimore. Dead Khapra Beetles were discovered last week in a celery seed shipment from India (via our wire service and the Baltimore Business Journal).

The most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad could be soon be given a special honor -- lawmakers in Washington are considering creating two national parks named for Harriet Tubman, who was born into slavery on the Eastern Shore. 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of Tubman's death and US Senator Barbara Mikulski is pressing for federal authorization of the parks -- one of which would be in Maryland. Senator Mikulski is optimistic that the parks will get approval this year (via our wire service, WJZ, and the Daily Times).

In sports news: It looks like ninth grade athletics will continue in the Frederick County school system next year; an early draft of the system's FY-2014 budget cut ninth grade sports, in an effort to save tens of thousands of dollars. But parents fought back against the plan, and last night, the County's school board unanimously voted to keep ninth grade athletics funded (via the Frederick News Post).

And: The Baltimore Orioles officially began the new season yesterday. Pitchers and catchers reported to Sarasota, Florida and started workouts just before noon. Position players are expected to report today with full work outs beginning Friday.