Thanksgiving Schedule Changes, Calls For More Post-Sandy Disaster Relief, Homicides In Baltimore, and More On UMD's Switch To The Big 10

Pretty much every public instituion in Maryland is closed today, as the nation celebrates Thanksgiving. Schools, courts, banks and libraries are closed -- so are federal, state, and local government offices. There's no regular mail delivery from the Post office. And all trash pick-up services are on hold today; Baltimore residents get a makeup trash pickup day on Saturday. There aren't any MARC trains or commuter buses today, and holiday schedules are in effect for the Light Rail, Metro Subway, and regular MTA buses. And you here's one more thing to be thankful for -- you don't need to feed the meters today, as Thanksgiving is a parking meter holiday. The Baltimore Sun has more on Thanksgiving schedule changes here.

Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski are urging President Obama to approve Hurricane Sandy disaster assistance for several communities on the Lower Shore (via the Baltimore Sun and the Daily Record).  

A recent spike in gun violence in Baltimore is causing the homicide rate to rise above last year's total, with more than a month left to go in 2012 (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun). 

It's possible the governing board of the University of Maryland broke the law in the process of deciding to move from the Atlantic Coast Conference to the Big Ten. The school's board of regents met twice in secret, which violates the Maryland Open Meetings Act. But the Baltimore Sun notes that no punishment is likely... and while the regents could have to vote again publicly, UMD didn't actually need the regents' approval to join the Big Ten.

WYPR Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith has been thinkinging about UMD's switch to the Big Ten, and comments here in his weekly essay.

Governor Martin O'Malley remains unhappy with the nominee chosen to replace former Prince George's County Delegate Tiffany Alston in the General Assembly. County Democrats selected businessman Gregory Hall to succeed Alston, who was forced out of office after pleading guilty to a theft charge. O'Malley's spokeswoman says the governor would be happy to appoint one of many people other than Hall, who 20 years ago was convicted of a misdemeanor gun charge linked to a deadly shootout. Meanwhile, Alston says that she and her attorneys are preparing to sue the state, in an attempt go get her seat back (via our wire service and the Gazette).

Another lawmaker removed from office is also trying to return: former Anne Arundel County Councilman Daryl Jones. After going to prison for failing to file tax returns, Jones had his law license suspended and was removed from the Anne Arundel County Council. But now, Maryland's Court of Appeals has agreed to reinstate his licence. And the Court will hear Jones' appeal to his removal from office in a couple weeks (via our wire service, the Baltimore Sun, and the Daily Record).  

Baltimore's Public Art Commission says the Inner Harbor can become the permanent setting for a statue of Baltimore's first African-American mayor. The Commission voted 6-to-0 yesterday to allow the placement of an eight-foot-tall statue of the late Clarence H. Du Burns on a city-owned parcel near the Maryland Science Center (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

Finally, some good news for Baltimoreans whose commutes take them along Charles Street, just north of North Avenue. The street has re-opened, after being shut down for two weeks following a massive water main break (via the Baltimore Sun).