Maryland News - baltimoresun.com

Valentine's Day busiest of year for Md. courthouse marriages

By Mary Gail Hare , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:15:00 GMT

Couples — wearing wedding finery or jeans and T-shirts — choose clerk's office over chapel

Holly Atwood, 18, chose a sequined, strapless wedding gown and train with a shoulder-length veil for her wedding to Steven Joseph, 21. He wore a tuxedo with a red vest and tie, a nod to Valentine's Day. She was so nervous she left her heels in the car and walked into the Baltimore County Courthouse in satin slippers.

Aberdeen man arrested in shooting Saturday, held without bail

BY BRYNA ZUMER, bzumer@theaegis.com — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:32:56 GMT

An Aberdeen man has been charged with attempted murder after police say he shot another man in the city Saturday night.

State, local officials preparing for new BRAC

By Matthew Hay Brown , The Baltimore Sun — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:12:00 GMT

Taking nothing for granted as Pentagon seeks more base realignment in 2013

As President Barack Obama proposed a new round of military base closures and reorganization, Maryland's political and business forces already are working to protect installations here and position the state to benefit from any future moves.

Iraqi stray dogs win American hearts, find homes in Maryland

By Mary Gail Hare , The Baltimore Sun — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:12:00 GMT

Defense contractor befriended strays and flew them to U.S.

Once among the thousands of dogs roaming Baghdad, a city that considers strays a menace, Sara eluded traps set by police and survived a car accident — albeit with a broken leg.

Another BRAC in 2013? Where Harford stands

BY MARISSA GALLO, mgallo@theaegis.com — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:36:00 GMT

Transportation concerns might hurt county's chances for more relocations

There's potential for more growth at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harford County officials say. Whether that growth could come from another round of BRAC in 2013 or 2015 is still to be determined, however.

Three-vehicle crash in Perry Hall kills Edgewood woman, 30

By Mary Gail Hare , The Baltimore Sun — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:50:00 GMT

Second victim taken to hospital

A 30-year-old Harford County woman was killed Wednesday after her car collided with two other vehicles along Belair Road in Perry Hall, Baltimore County Police said.

Appeals court: State cannot re-indict defendants unfit for trial

By Arthur Hirsch , The Baltimore Sun — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:30:00 GMT

Judge panel finds in favor of two men charged in Baltimore, Harford counties

A Maryland appeals court has ruled that the state violated the rights of two men who were found incompetent to stand trial and were then held in state institutions beyond the legal time limit without going through proceedings for commitment to a mental hospital.

Police: Mother says she delivered stillborn baby, put body in trash

By Mary Gail Hare , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:06:00 GMT

Investigators say unidentified mother called police but release few other details

Bel Air police are releasing few details about a woman who said she delivered a stillborn baby at a home in the town and then threw the body away.

Fetus found in trash bin in Bel Air

By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:42:00 GMT

Police received report about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday

A fetus was found in a Bel Air trash bin Tuesday night, following a phone call alerting police to the dead child, officials said.

Harford charter review panel suggests council term limits

BY BRYNA ZUMER, bzumer@theaegis.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:08 GMT

Board also calls for more flexibility in redistricting process, possible end to newspaper publication of notices in favor of the Internet

Harford County could limit county council members to two successive terms in office and require a county redistricting committee to be less partisan, if recommendations by the charter review board are approved.

Aberdeen salute ceremony hails MDNG soldiers after year-long deployment

BY YVONNE JOHNSON, APG News — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:46:00 GMT

More than 80 members of the Maryland Army National Guard Headquarters Aviation Depot Maintenance Roundout Unit assembled at Aberdeen Proving Ground Saturday for a Freedom Salute Ceremony, officially welcoming the unit home after its year-long deployment to Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn from October 2010 to October 2011.

Trooper receives minor injuries in Harford car chase

By Mary Gail Hare , The Baltimore Sun — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:03:00 GMT

Joppa man, 22, charged with DUI, assault, traffic offenses

A state trooper narrowly escaped serious injury during an early-morning chase Friday along Route 152 in southern Harford County, and a suspect has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Harford teachers union, school board reach accord on bonus payment

By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:07:54 GMT

First $625 disbursement would be made two weeks after council, executive approve funding

Harford County's teachers union and school board reached a tentative deal Wednesday to amend this school year's contract to include half of the county executive's proposed bonus disbursement.

Firefighters control blaze in northern Harford home

BY KAYLA BAWROSKI, kabawroski@theaegis.com — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:28:47 GMT

Several companies battle fire, no injuries reported but dog dies

Forty firefighters from several companies battled a blaze in a home in the Street area of northern Harford County late Thursday afternoon.

Boy Scouts seek land in process dating to Colonial era

By Edward Gunts , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:28:00 GMT

No one owns 19 acres in Harford, records show

The 19 wooded acres in northern Harford County blend in well with the sprawling Boy Scouts campground that surrounds it.

Company challenges award of travel plaza contract

By Candus Thomson , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:15:00 GMT

HMSHost says bidding favored Miami company

The multimillion-dollar contract to turn Maryland's travel plazas on Interstate 95 over to an out-of-state company is being challenged by a Bethesda-based firm that says the bidding process favored the eventual winner.

Aberdeen man charged with sexual assault of 13-year-old girl

BY BRYNA ZUMER and KAYLA BAWROSKI, bzumer@theaegis.com kabawroski@theaegis.com — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:10:27 GMT

Aberdeen city police have charged a local man in connection with a sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl last week.

Lawyers in abortion murder case say fetal deaths occurred in N.J.

By Peter Hermann , The Baltimore Sun — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:57:55 GMT

Attorneys file motion to dismiss charges

Lawyers for a doctor charged with killing five viable fetuses at an Elkton clinic said in a court motion filed Friday that Maryland lacks jurisdiction because the deaths occurred in New Jersey, and the charges should be thrown out.

Harford, Balto. counties survey homeless for annual census

By Mary Gail Hare , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:08:00 GMT

Local governments required to report every two years

Baltimore and Harford counties are conducting their annual surveys of the homeless population this week, gathering information about how many people lack a permanent place to stay and why.

Two dead from Aberdeen homeless camp identified

BY MARISSA GALLO, mgallo@theaegis.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:50:31 GMT

Police say foul play isn't suspected

Less than a week before Harford County does its annual count of the homeless, a homeless man and woman found unconscious in a tent in Aberdeen Friday morning have died. A third person was hospitalized.

Archdiocese investigating priest charged with indecent exposure

By Mary Gail Hare and Alison Knezevich, The Baltimore Sun — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:38:00 GMT

Priest indefinitely barred from ministry

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has launched its own investigation into a Towson priest arrested this month on charges of indecent exposure at an adult store.

Man detained in I-95 shooting incident

By Justin Fenton , The Baltimore Sun — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:04:00 GMT

Police say shots were fired in road-rage altercation

A 34-year-old Joppa man was charged Wednesday with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment after allegedly firing shots at another vehicle while driving north on Interstate 95 near the exit for Route 152.

Community rallies around teen accused of killing father

By Yvonne Wenger, The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:03:20 GMT

Bel Air residents plan to hire private attorney for Robert C. Richardson III

Sitting on a bench toward the rear of a Harford County courtroom Tuesday was a row of well-dressed women determined to send Robert C. Richardson III a message: They've got his back.

6 Md. schools get Blue Ribbon designation

By Erica L. Green, The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:31:00 GMT

Elementary schools in 6 districts honored

Six elementary schools have been added to the prestigious Maryland list of Blue Ribbon designees after they were recognized as the highest performers and for raising achievement of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Records identify owner of burned Abingdon home

By Alison Knezevich, The Baltimore Sun — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:36:10 GMT

Body found on second floor of home on Saturday

Property records show that an Abingdon home that was the site of a fatal fire Saturday belonged to a man named John Youngblood.