Senator Barbara Mikulski says there is a compelling case that nerve gas was used by the regime of Syrian leader Bashar Assad, but remains undecided on whether a US military strike is the best response. Plus: calls for a higher MD minimum wage, August casino revenues, and more.Mikulski On Syria: Senator Barbara Mikulski says that the case that Syria’s government used chemical weapons last month is compelling. But Mikulski remains undecided whether she’ll support a resolution favoring a US military response. The Baltimore Sun has more.
MD’s Minimum Wage: More Maryland politicians are getting behind the idea of raising the state’s minimum wage -- including State Senate President Mike Miller and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake. The Washington Post notes that legislation that would have upped the rate by nearly 3 dollars an hour failed during this year’s General Assembly session, but backers appear optimistic that similar legislation will move forward next year. The Baltimore Sun reports that new proposed legislation would raise the minimum wage from its current $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour by 2016; the bill would tie the rate to inflation in future years. The Sun has more here.
Improving Training For State Employees Who Deal With People With Disabilities: Governor Martin O'Malley says he wants to improve training for state employees whose jobs can require them to deal with people with disabilities. O’Malley also says he’ll consider ordering an independent investigation into the death of a developmentally challenged young man in Frederick County – but hasn’t said when he’ll make a decision. As the Washington Post reports, O’Malley met yesterday with Patti Saylor, the mother of 26-year-old Ethan Saylor, who died while in the custody of Frederick County law enforcement officers at a movie theater this past January. The Baltimore Sun reports that security officers say they physically restrained Saylor when he allegedly fought back after being asked to leave. Authorities said excessive force was not used. Patti Saylor says she wants a full investigation to find out what happened to her son.
Casino Revenues Set More Records: August set another round of records for Maryland’s casino gambling industry. The state’s four casinos brought in a record $71-million last month; that’s about 2 million more than the month before. All four casinos saw a slightly higher take in August than in July. The Baltimore Business Journal has more here.
Behind Annapolis Mayor's Upcoming Harbor Dip: WYPR's Fraser Smith and Karen Hosler talk about the upcoming Democratic primary for Annapolis mayor and why the post has historically been difficult to retain. It’s this morning’s look Inside Maryland Politics.
Two Hospitalized After Fall From Sugarloaf Mountain: A ten-year-old boy and his father are hospitalized after a fall from a mountain cliff in Frederick County yesterday. Officials say a family was hiking on Sugarloaf Mountain yesterday afternoon, when the boy fell and his father fell while trying to rescue him. Both father and son are said to be in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. The Frederick News Post has more here.
Archery Season Gets Underway: Today is the first day of Archery season for white-tailed deer in Maryland. It’s also the first day of Sika deer archery season in the Eastern Shore counties where that species can be found. The state Department of Natural Resources has made several changes for this year’s season – including allowing Sunday hunting on private land on several dates. Archery season runs through January 31st of next year… and the DNR is urging hunters to donate any extra deer to the “Farmers and Hunters Feeding The Hungry” program – which, last year, donated over 600-thousand venison meals to local food banks.
Assateague Pony Struck By Car: One of the famed wild ponies Assateague Island's is dead -- a victim of a car crash. An Assateague Island National Seashore official says a 20-year-old bay mare stepped into the path of a car Monday evening near the Verrazano bridge at the park's entrance. The driver was charged with unsafe operation of a motor vehicle. The Baltimore Sun reports that some 29 ponies have been hit and killed by vehicles inside Assateague Island park over the last 30 years.
Harbaugh’s New Contract: Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has a contract, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NFL, at nearly $7-million a year. This contract replaces the two years that were remaining on his old deal and adds two more years, through 2016. The Baltimore Sun reports that Harbaugh’s new contract was finalized months ago, but it only became public yesterday – shortly before the Raven’s season opener against the Denver Broncos.
Baltimore Football: the Ravens lost their season opener against the Denver Broncos. The score was 49 to 27. The Ravens are set to host the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.
Baltimore Baseball: the Orioles took down the Chicago White Sox 3 to 1 yesterday. The two teams play again tonight at Camden Yards, starting at 7:05pm.
