Same-Sex Marriage, Speed Cameras, School Clinics, and "The Lines Between Us"

The State Attorney General's office says that same-sex marriages will be allowed to be performed on January 1st, 2013, the day the law legalizing them takes effect. Previously, the AG's office had said that holidays and the standard 2-day waiting period would have kept such nuptuals from happening until January 4th. Yesterday's opinion permits court clerks to issue same sex marriage licenses as early as December sixth, with January 1st as the effective date (via our wire service, the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, and the Frederick News Post). 

The criticism of Baltimore's automated speed camera program is mounting, as City officials say that they're investigating a second camera for giving erroneous tickets to motorists. The camera in question is on West Cold Spring Lane in North Baltimore... and it's just the latest to be connected to inaccurate tickets. An investigation earlier this month revealed a similar problem with a camera near Poly-Western High School. Both of cameras under scrutiny are still issuing tickets, but transportation officials say that an "additional verification process" is in place (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun). In related news, Annapolis is set to get its own automated speed cameras; Mayor Josh Cohen says the devices will be up and running in school zones within weeks (via the Baltimore Sun).

Baltimore health officials say that increasing numbers of public school students are suffering from complex health problems... such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and allergies. However, health care still consists mainly of health aides in most local schools. This month, a pilot program kicked off that will give students who have minimum health care at their school access to a neighboring school’s fully-staffed, health center. WYPR’s Gwendolyn Glenn has more.

Baltimore County officials are looking into a plan to repair school infrastructure. The plan will be a similar - but smaller - version of Baltimore City's $2.4-billion facilities plan, unveiled earlier this week (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

The divide between the net worth of white and minority Americans grew rapidly during the recent housing boom and bust. On today's edition of our year-long series about inequality in the Baltimore region, The Lines Between Us, Sheilah Kast talks about the wealth gap with two researchers and Dominique Moore, a Baltimore resident whose great uncle is in danger of losing his home. You’ll also hear his story. Maryland Morning senior producer Lawrence Lanahan has this preview.

The Maryland Transportaton Authority has approved a series of safety measures for the westbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (via the Daily Times and the Baltimore Sun). 

State auditors are citing deficiencies in oversight procedures at BWI Marshall Airport by the Maryland Aviation Administration (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

Baltimore County has wrapped up a sale of pension obligation bonds; in all, $256-million dollars worth of bonds were sold -- and county officials say that the bonds will let them save an estimated $343-million over the next thirty years (via the Baltimore Sun). 

Frederick's Mayor and Aldermen last night issued a series of proposals they hope they'll be able to fund in next year's budget. They include increased staffing for the City's police department, creating a downtown shuttle service, resuming bulk trash pickup, and offering a curbside recycling program that would include organic waste (via the Frederick News Post). 

Baltimore County has been ordered by a District Court judge to pay $500-thousand to cover attorney's fees and court costs, in a case involving the Americans with Disabilities Act (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun). 

In sports news this morning: One of the NFL's best rivalries is renewed Sunday as the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens beat the Steelers 13-10 in Pittsburgh two weeks ago... and if they win again on Sunday, the Ravens can clinch a playoff berth.