West Nile Virus, Salmonella, A Big Blue Catfish, and Delegate Burns Backs Off A Call For Raven Brendon Ayanbadejo To Stop Advocating For Same-Marrage

West Nile Virus has claimed one life in Maryland this summer, and infected 21 people. That's about the same incidence of the mosquito-bourne disease our state saw last year. But with the rest of the nation facing its worst West Nile outbreak ever -- and with about a month left in mosquito season -- the state is spraying for mosquitos in three counties, and urging people to be aware of the symptoms of the disease (via the Baltimore Sun).

Rates of salmonella infection on the Eastern Shore are three times higher than they are in the rest of Maryland. Data from the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene show that the nine Eastern Shore counties saw 41 cases of salmonella per 100-thousand people last year; the rest of Maryland averaged just 14 per 100-thousand. Analysts also say that the Eastern Shore's poultry industry may be at least partly to blame (via the Daily Times).

Baltimore County Delegate Emmett Burns is backing off efforts to stop Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo from speaking out in favor of same-sex marriage (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

On today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics, WYPR Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith talks with WYPR reporter Karen Hosler about the role of Senator Barbara Mikulski in the Democratic National Convention.

It was another violent weekend in Baltimore; the city saw two fatal shootings and two non-fatal shootings over the past two days. The violence comes amid a leadership change for the police department; new Police Commissioner Anthony Betts is set to take office on September 27th (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

The National Weather Service says a funnel cloud was spotted in the area of Cape Saint Claire in Anne Arundel County during Saturday's severe storms. More than 20-thousand BGE customers lost electricity during the storms, but power restorations were complete by last night (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

The seventeen-year-old victim of last month's shooting at Perry Hall High School is now in stable condition at the hospital (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

There's been another incident of vandalism at a speed camera in Baltimore County. The camera near Loch Raven High School on Cromwell Bridge road was spray painted sometine before 7am on Friday morning. This is the second time that camera has been vandalized in a month (via the Baltimore Sun). 

Greener and cleaner vehicles will be on display for the next three days at the Baltimore Convention Center. The Fifth International Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Conference is being held here today through Wednesday. This is the first time the conference has been hosted in the US (via our wire service; more online here).

An Oregon man holds the new record for catching the largest blue catfish in Maryland. Ed Jones reportedly caught the 52-inch long 84-pound catfish last month in the Potomac River near Fort Washington. Officials at the Department of Natural Resources say they're glad that the fish was plucked from Maryland's waters, as it's not really supposed to be here -- the blue catfish is an outsider that poses a serious threat to native species (via our wire service, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Washington Post).

And in sports: The Orioles lost to the New York Yankees yesterday; the score was 13 to 3. The O's are off today; tomorrow, they'll play against the Tampa Bay Rays.

And: The Ravens begin their regular season tonight; they'll play against the Cincinnati Bengals here in Baltimore, in a game set to start at 7pm.