eWallstreeter

With traffic growing, state begins another study of Bay Bridge capacity

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:52:00 EDT

Two-year analysis will determine when a new crossing should be builtAdmired, cursed and studied, the Bay Bridge, Maryland's sole Chesapeake Bay crossing, is being eyed again as state engineers try to determine how many years are left in its girders and suspension cables.

From 'Middle East' to 'Eager Park,' a community is rebranded

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:48:00 EDT

Current, former residents fear community's history will be lostHundreds of residents have been relocated and dozens of homes cleared from Baltimore's Middle East neighborhood in recent years. Now the area just north of Johns Hopkins Hospital may be losing something more: its name.

Orioles place RHP Pedro Strop on 15-day DL, recall RHP Steve Johnson

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:17:00 EDT

The Orioles have placed Pedro Strop on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain and recalled Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk. The move is retroactive to Friday, so Strop can return as early as June 8.

With rise of races like Tough Mudder, extreme fun comes with serious risk

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:56:00 EDT

As adrenaline-fueled races have exploded in popularity in a recent years, creating an industry with tens of millions of dollars in revenue, some racers have paid a high price.

South River sends coach Dunn into retirement with first baseball title

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:50:00 EDT

No. 3 Seahawks beat No. 8 Catonsville, 6-0, in Class 4A finalSouth River coach Ken Dunn announced he would retire after coaching his last game this season, so his players gave him the perfect parting gift. ¿ the school's first baseball state championship.

Orioles bash four homers in 10-6 win

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:34:00 EDT

O's knock around Toronto lefty Nolin in his first major league startIn their third victory in four games, the Orioles hit four homers, including J.J. Hardy's three-run blast to left off Blue Jays rookie Sean Nolin just three batters into the game and Danny Valencia's first long ball as an Oriole.

UM says it alerted AG's office about swim coach's abuse of girl

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:50:54 EDT

Rick Curl was sentenced this week to seven years in prison of teen he coached at his private clubThe University of Maryland says it alerted the state attorney general nearly 25 years ago that the school's head swimming coach had acknowledged sexually abusing a girl at his private club, but he was not charged until last year.

Hammond's Miller wins triple jump as 4A and 3A state track meet begins

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:02:00 EDT

Hammond's Jermika Miller had long wanted to win a state title. The triple jumper finally got one Friday — in her last high school meet.

Q&A with Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman: Debut was 'coolest day ever'

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:40:00 EDT

Now that Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman has his major league debut behind him, he can concentrate on building off his first start. Gausman will remain in the starting rotation for the foreseeable future. If the Orioles stay on schedule, his next start would be Tuesday night in Washington.

Abortion clinics lose licenses again

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:23:59 EDT

Accused of beginning abortions with no doctor presentAccused of beginning abortions with no doctor present

We’re Taking Monday Off for Memorial Day

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:00:51 EDT

The staff and writers of Baltimore Fishbowl are taking Monday, May 28, Memorial Day, off. We’ll be back on Tuesday. – The Eds.… Read More

Catching Up With ... Tom Marechek

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:00 EDT

Former Syracuse and Bayhawks star is trying to revive Friends' lacrosse programHe brought a swagger to lacrosse with his flashy play and endless array of acrobatic shots which, decades later, still rack up views on YouTube. How many different ways could Tom Marechek, onetime star of the Baltimore Bayhawks, score goals? Behind his back. Between his legs. Off the alley-oop pass.

House of the Day: A Penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:30:38 EDT

$2,249,000 801 Key Highway, Baltimore 3 bedroom(s), 4 bathroom(s) 3,834 square feet GO TO TOURS TO VIEW FLOOR PLAN AND MORE PHOTOS…. BALTIMORE’S BEST WATERFRONT COMMUNITY,THE RITZ CARLTON RESIDENCES PROVIDE A HEIGHTEN LIVING EXPERIENCE FOR IT’S RESIDENTS.. AWARD WINNING AMENITIES INCLUDE POOL WITH SAUNA , FITNESS CENTER, MARINA AND MORE.EACH RESIDENCE INCLUDES 2 PARKING SPACES, PRIVATE ELEVATOR , SPACIOUS OPEN LIVING AND 24/7/365 SERVICES INCLUDING CONCIERGE, DOORMAN AND VALET See This Property »… Read More

Memorial Day grilling recipes

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:24:00 EDT

Get ready for the holiday weekend with no-fail grilling recipes. These dishes are perfection made simple so you'll have plenty of time to chill out or hang out with your guests.

Unite Here, Horseshoe Casino nearing labor peace agreement

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:30:44 EDT

In this week’s BBJ, I wrote about how the expansion of casino gaming in Maryland offers labor unions a huge opportunity to expand their membership and clout in a state where unions have traditionally wielded a lot of influence. When I spoke with Roxie Herbekian, president of Unite Here, Local 7, she told me her union is close to coming to terms on a labor peace agreement with the owners of Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. Unite Here represents about 100,000 casino workers across the country, including…

The Week in Review: Top Stories This Week in the Baltimore Fishbowl

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:30:31 EDT

Hot House: Former CEO’s Country Estate by Cynthia McIntyre The Preakness in Pictures by Tyler Merbler John Waters on Baltimore: “It’s Where the Cutest Boys Are.” by Rachel Monroe Bohemian Rhapsody: Love, Loss, and What I Cooked by Marion Winik Did You See Baltimore’s $100,000 Ad in the NY Times? by Rachel Monroe… Read More

Brick House first beneficiary of casino-revenue loan program

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:20:11 EDT

An Annapolis learning center will be the first to get a business loan through a program that uses casino revenue to support small businesses. Brick House LLC will be awarded the first loan through Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp., one of three organizations tapped to manage about $7.8 million in slot-machine revenue set aside for investments in small businesses. Aside from Anne Arundel, Meridian Management Group Inc. and Maryland Capital Enterprises Inc. are responsible for investing the…

Pigtown Design: Historic ‘Peggy Stewart House’ in Annapolis for Sale

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:00:17 EDT

When I lived in Annapolis many years ago, the Peggy Stewart House was a part of my daily life.I would spot it frequently as I walked to and from work, and on my jaunts around town.It’s now on the market for $3.2 million. The Peggy Stewart House got its name from the ship named after Anthony Stewart’s daughter, Margaret. Stewart, a merchant and importer, lived in the home for seven years. in 1774, he returned to the US with a ship full of tea, paid the duty on the tea which was a violation of non-importation agreement. There was a riot, and Stewart was forced by the mob to set fire to his ship and its cargo. Stewart fled Annapolis soon after. TheStewart House includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms, eight garage parking spaces (which may account for the high price – parking is at a premium in Annapolis, year-round), a… Read More

June Workshops at the Creative Alliance

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:57:51 EDT

Summer is almost upon us. And though adults don’t get the kind of three month summer vacay that kids do, summer does tend to bring with it at least a vacationy feeling. It’s a time to dig into projects, try something new, and try to at least tap into that youthful self-improvement drive. Whether it’s planting a garden, taking up a musical instrument, or working on your backstroke, summer is a great time to get into something new and potentially fruitful. All this is made even easier by the plentiful workshops being offered by the (air conditioned) Creative Alliance next month. We’re letting you know now since there’s a good chance these will fill up and sell out. And many of them are events you just don’t want to miss. The Creative Alliance always hosts a variety of weekly activities—including life drawing classes and screenwriters meet ups. But this month… Read More

Fiats cruise into Port of Baltimore

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:43:45 EDT

The Port of Baltimore said buongiorno Friday to a shipment of 2,500 Fiat 500L’s automobiles. The cars, which arrived at Fairfield Marine Terminal, are part of 30,000 new Fiats scheduled to be shipped from the company’s plant in Serbia to Baltimore over the next 12 months. The Port of Baltimore is the only U.S. East Coast port to handle the 500L models. “The Port has withstood a challenging economy and continues to outperform many other major U.S. ports,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a…

Towson University AD search starts next week

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:37:12 EDT

The search for Towson University’s next athletic director begins next week, university President Maravene S. Loeschke told the Baltimore Business Journal Friday. The school will form a search committee next week to look for new candidates, Loeschke said. An interim athletic director will also be selected to replace Mike Waddell within the next couple of weeks, she said. Waddell, Towson’s athletic director from 2010 to 2013, announced on Monday he was stepping down to become the senior associate…

Bank notes: JPMorgan CEO keeps the chair; Jay Sidhu's a happy man

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:20:25 EDT

With Memorial Day weekend looming, lots of bankers took the opportunity Frioday to get a headstart on the long holiday weekend. But before they ducked out early, those bankers made lots of news that my fellow American City Business Journal banking reporters picked up on this week. From JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s annual shareholder meeting in Tampa to a big stock sale in the Philadelphia market, we go ‘round the horn to fill you on what happened in the banking world. • Tampa Bay Business Journal’s…

Gilman Senior Zane MacFarlane on Life’s “Magic Moments”

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:06:54 EDT

Every year, we invite local high school seniors to share with us their senior speech, a tradition at many local private schools where a student addresses the student body on a subject of his or her choice. Today we feature the speech of Gilman School Senior Zane MacFarlane. Zane is senior class president and played the lead role of Joe (Boyd) Hardy in the recent musical production of “Damn Yankees.” He will attend Pomona College in the fall. Chirp, Zane.- The Eds. The drums were slow at first as they ran around outside, “Dum, dumdumdum, Dum, dumdumdum…” Meanwhile in my cabin, I was lying down on top of my bunk bed, staring at the rafters. It was my third year at Camp Virginia, a place I loved and returned to every summer, and tonight the honor council – the most respected group of campers – were going around, inducting the… Read More

Former Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis To Climb A New Mountain Top

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:45:48 EDT

Ray Lewis climbed the proverbial “mountain top” twice in his illustrious career with the Baltimore Ravens, winning two Super Bowl rings during his 17-year career. In a month or so from now, he’ll literally climb the mountain top for a project that is near and dear to his heart. Yesterday, via his Twitter account, Ray...The post Former Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis To Climb A New Mountain Top appeared first on Baltimore Sports Report.

Mayor officiates at lobbyists’ wedding in Las Vegas

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:31:16 EDT

Mayor Rawlings-Blake, we find out, took time out from her schedule of meetings with developers and shopping center promoters in Las Vegas to officiate at the wedding of City Hall's two top lobbyists, Lisa Harris Jones and Sean Malone.

Obama implores graduates to carry forth values they've learned

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:22:00 EDT

President vows to fight for military resources despite budget cutsPresident Barack Obama told graduating midshipmen at the Naval Academy on Friday that the nation needs them to "project power across the oceans" and vowed to continue to fight for military resources for their missions in the face of deep federal budget cuts.

Charm City Cook: Friends and Farms

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:57:02 EDT

Going local, for me, is part of my everyday life. I can run errands in my ‘hood and see great people like Jed and Carey at The Wine Source, Robin at Howl (they sell chicken feed!), Susannah at Ma Petite Shoe and CHOUX, Jenny at Zensations by Jen, Deb at Falkenhan’s Hardware and so many more. So, my love of all things local has made me a big fan of CSAs – Community Supported Agriculture. For many years now, I’ve been a CSA member with a local farm, One Straw Farm. I like knowing where my food comes from, and more importantly (to me), I want to support local people. Joan and Drew Norman of One Straw are such great people and they’ve taught me so much over the years – especially about food I’d never cooked before. For example, my favorite thing to make last year was butternut squash and celeriac soup – who knew?! Joan also gave me my first flock of baby chicks… Read More

The Singing Professor: Songwriting 101 at UB

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:30:11 EDT

If University of Baltimore Professor Roger Friskey’s brisk attitude and winning grin remind you of Robert Preston in the film classic The Music Man, in which, of course, Preston’s charming band leader character only pretends to teach teens to play their expensive instruments, cease the comparisons at cosmetic ones. Yes, Friskey’s teaching a brand-new songwriting class as part of the summer schedule at UB; true, Friskey encourages anyone and everyone to register, even those without a hint of musical training or ability. But the guitar-strumming, Renaissance businessman, who typically lectures on persuasive and public relations writing for the university, isn’t promising to turn his students into pop stars or producers overnight. He’s just saying all are welcome to join the lively workshop discussion of songwriting technique and the seminar chat about the fast-changing face of the music industry. And all are encouraged to compose at their level. “At UB we… Read More

Baltimore among top spots for backyard BBQs

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:12:42 EDT

If you’re grilling on your deck or busting open crabs on a table in your big yard this Memorial Day weekend, consider yourself among the luckiest long-weekenders in the nation. The Baltimore region’s decks and large yards rank Baltimore seventh in the top 10 places in the country to have a barbecue, according to an analysis of home features by the online real estate marketplace Redfin. Baltimore ranked just behind the Washington D.C. region for having 53 percent of homes with large yards and…

50 best pictures from Preakness 2013

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:08:00 EDT

After searching through thousands of pictures from the 138th Preakness at Pimlico Race Course, we've picked our favorites. Browse them all.

Expedient Data to double Baltimore footprint

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:58:02 EDT

Security firm Expedient Data Centers is doubling its footprint in the Baltimore area with a new data center in Owings Mills. Expedient has signed a lease for a new, 25,000-square-foot data center at 11155 Red Run Blvd., which the company plans to open in October. The Owings Mills center will double the company’s space in the Baltimore area and increase its staff by 50 percent. “It’s not a minor expansion — it’s legitimately doubling the business from a Baltimore perspective,” said Regional…

79 townhouses planned for Sparks

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:49:31 EDT

Obrecht Properties will build 79 townhouses at the intersection of York Road and Fila Way in Sparks, with construction to start in the second quarter of 2014. The townhomes should sell for between $400,000 and $450,000 each once completed, said Thomas Obrecht, chairman of Obrecht Properties. The company has already obtained zoning for the project and is now in the entitlement process, Obrecht said. Design plans for the property are being submitted. Obrecht said the company plans to start grating…

Joe Flacco Vows to Stop Using the “R-Word”

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:14 EDT

In a pre-Super Bowl press conference, someone asked Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco what he thought about cold-weather cities playing host to the Super Bowl. “Yeah, I think it’s retarded,” he said — then immediately backtracked: “I probably shouldn’t say that. I think it’s stupid.” Despite an apology, over the next week, Flacco was condemned for his “poor command of the English language” and “offensive” word-choice. And now, Flacco (along with teammates Gino Gradkowski and Ed Dickson) has signed the Special Olympics’ R-Word Pledge, promising to never again use the term in a derogatory way. Flacco has done a good thing in managing to turn a verbal slip-up into a teaching moment; the incident has gotten more attention for the Special Olympics’ “Spread the Word to End the Word” movement: The R-word hurts because it is exclusive. It’s offensive. It’s derogatory,Our campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the R-word… Read More

Baltimore Ranked 12th Healthiest City in America

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:45:06 EDT

Courtesy Citybizlist - Boston has been rated the ‘healthiest’ city in the country. Along with excellent health insurance coverage and the highest rate of physicians per residents, residents of the city also have access to a number of federally-funded health programs, Business Insider said. Baltimore was ranked twelfth healthiest. BusinessInsider.com published a list of the 15 healthiest cities of America. The list was compiled by Nerdwallet.com and based on four factors – how fit the residents are, their health insurance, the number of physicians per 100,000 residents, and the number of high particle pollution days per year for each metro area. The 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. were included in the analysis. The data was gathered from the American Fitness Index, the American Lung Association’s 2013 State of the Air report, and census data on health insurance coverage and the number of physicians per 100,000 residents. See the list of healthiest cities… Read More

Where are the STEM jobs?

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:45:00 EDT

As college graduates head into the real world, even many who majored in science, math, engineering and technology are having a hard timeRepublicans and Democrats appear to agree on at least one thing: that the United States is facing a STEM (science, technology engineering and math) crisis. In his most recent State of the Union address, President Barack Obama declared that he wants to "reward schools" that focus on STEM classes, for they are "the skills today's employers are looking for to fill jobs right now and in the future." And as far to the other end of the political spectrum as you can get, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas deemed May 6-12 to be the first ever "Celebration of STEM Education Week in Texas."

This Week in Research: Avoiding Digital Distraction; A Blood Test for Postpartum Depression

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:18:34 EDT

According to Johns Hopkins professor P.M. Forni, our current “age of distraction” is making us more shallow, stupid, and unhappy. And as the founder of the university’s Civility Initiative, Forni should know. Forni’s fear is that digital distraction makes us less likely to spend time simply thinking; instead, we obsessively check for new emails/tweets/Facebook likes/Instagram photos, or mindlessly scroll through online detritus. But, as Forni writes in his 2011 book, The Thinking Life: How to Thrive in the Age of Distraction, “If we agree that life is important, then thinking as we go through it is the basic tribute we owe it. It also happens to be the golden way to the good life——the kind of life in which happiness blooms.” Forni offered Baltimore Magazine a few tips for how to make sure that your digital devices don’t melt your brain. My personal favorite is his suggestion for 15-minute “thinking… Read More

“Chris Davis For AL MVP” Talk Has Officially Begun

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:35:09 EDT

Two weeks ago I boldly (and stupidly, according to my podcast co-host Patrick Guthrie) proclaimed that that Jim Johnson was the best closer in baseball. Then he blew three consecutive saves. On Thursday, I highlighted the Orioles stellar defensive play this season. Last night in Toronto they committed two errors. I’m not saying I’m a...The post “Chris Davis For AL MVP” Talk Has Officially Begun appeared first on Baltimore Sports Report.

In defense of dieticians: How best to deal with America’s fast food addiction?

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:26:58 EDT

Scolding people into making better food choices is not an effective strategy, argues a dietician, responding to a physician's op-ed blasting a "healthy food" presentation by McDonald's to a Maryland dietetics conference.

Five for Friday: Reasons why Joe Flacco could have best season in 2013

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:56:00 EDT

In this week's Five for Friday, Baltimore Sun blogger and reporter Matt Vensel lists five reasons why Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco -- after winning the Super Bowl -- could have his best season in 2013.

Massage Therapy

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:52:33 EDT

We people are already familiar with so many benefits by the use of infrared acupressure massage bed from korean companies like migun. These automatic thermal masage beds whether half body, full body or manual spine thermal devices are the best option for pain control & weight loss at home with ease of use. These Korean technique devices works on the basis of production of healing infrared rays with the help of heated jade or tourmaline or even man made hyegia stones. But these devices from such branded companies costs a lot and does not fit everyone's pockets. Keeping this in mind, Carefit India has launched the most awaited automatic thermal massage bed for home use at very low prices with the same originality of jade, tourmanium or hygeia stones along with same health benefits but more functions as that of vigen therapie. Carefit automatic massage beds starts with a price tag of almost half as compared to the top leading companies. All the Carefit Automatic Beds comes with FREE DELIVERY ANYWHERE IN UTTAR PARDESH, FREE INSTALLATION & ONSITE WARRANTY SERVICES FOR FULL ONE YEAR.. You just need to order the bed of your choice in our Carefit India website & the bed will reach to your door step within a stipulated time period. These Carefit machines are similar and some models are even more better than others in the market.

One such rolling massage bed is CAREFIT-4000 (similar to Ceragem RL-1 bed) that is equipped with fully automatic jade rollers for spine therapy and a set of 165 tourmanium stones sheet on the leg for deep peneteration by far infrared rays. There are 3 automatic therapy modes and 1 manual mode in this bed. The bed also comes with 2 external jade heaters. One external jade heater is a 3 ball therapy device and the other is a 9 ball therapy device. 9 Ball therapy device can also be used by other person for manual therapy or upper body parts. In this way, 2 persons can simultaneously use this bed at their own convenience. Carefit-4000 is more advanced in terms of its additional carbon fiber panels inside the bed. The Carefit-4000 Bed can be delivered anywhere in India free of cost and also carries One year On-Site warranty service from the company.

The other newly launched bed for Nuga bed lovers is Carefit-4500. It consists of 5 pieces of original tourmanium stone rollers set for the spine therapy & a set of 192 tourmanium stones for the leg side part. It also consists of two attachments namely 3 ball & 9 ball. Rest of the features are similar to Carefit-4000 bed.

The latest thermal bed which is named as Carefit-5000 is having all the latest features which one will like to have in the bed. It is the most luxurious & heavy duty bed with its GW of 100 Kg which is almost double the GW of other beds available in India. It has a set of 9 original jade stone rollers set for the the most comfortable spine therapy. The lower side is having another set of 4 original jade stone rollers set. The Carefit bed is also equipped with the added functionalities of Carbon Fiber panels. It has 2 attachments with more number of jade stones namely 5 jade ball & 15 jade ball projector. The purpose is to increase the amount & concentration of miraculous far infrared rays with the help of more jade stones & more carbon fibers. It is also having USB music player to listen to songs. One can also take the therapy in Half-Sitting position with the help of its Auto-Lift motor which raises the back portion with single press on its lcd remote. Overall, the bed provides the most relaxing therapy benefits to everyone. Paralytics patients & old age people feel more easy to use this bed.

There are many more Carefit equipments which are equipped with advanced features at very affordable prices for most relaxing therapy benefits. Definitly, Carefit are the BEST BUY THERMAL MASSAGE BEDS with a distributor price tag, latest features & direct service support from CAREFIT INDIA. These devices give the BEST VALUE FOR MONEY to everyone.

CAREFIT devices are natural, effective, safe & drug-free and it may be the best alternative healthcare approach you have been searching for. Afterall, no on wish to spend more when something better is available at no extra costs.

Baltimore's general contractors are hiring

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:30:17 EDT

If you’re building up to getting a new job in construction, we have just the thing for you. Below are all the jobs reported to me in our annual survey of Baltimore-area general contractors: B&R Construction Services seeks a mechanical designer, an electrical designer and a project manager. Cain Contracting Inc. wants to hire a project manager, a superintendent and a project engineer. Cianbro Corp. is looking to hire a pipe welder, a civil engineer and a safety professional. Comer Construction…

Geeking Out Over Kevin Gausman’s Major League Debut

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:10:00 EDT

Maybe his final line didn’t show it (5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 89 pitches), but you could tell from his debut that Kevin Gausman is going to be something special in the big leagues. I wanted to hold off on evaluating and jumping to any conclusions until I was able...The post Geeking Out Over Kevin Gausman’s Major League Debut appeared first on Baltimore Sports Report.

Orioles thoughts on Kevin Gausman's debut, Adam Jones at DH and more

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:09:00 EDT

Baltimore Sun reporter Eduardo A. Encina checks in from the Rogers Centre in Toronto with some thoughts on Orioles rookie Kevin Gausman's first start, center fielder Adam Jones' sore groin and a play at second base involving Alexi Casilla.

Friday Links: Howard County Teens Indicted in Blogger’s Murder; Judge Hears Arguments in CAse of ACC Withdrawal; Pres. Obama to Address Naval Academy Today

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:01:44 EDT

Boys Scouts Ends Ban on Gays - The NY Times Howard County Teens Indicted in Blogger’s Murder - Baltimore Sun President Obama to Address Naval Academy Today – Baltimore Sun Md Judge Hears Arguments in Case About U if Md Withdrawal from the ACC - The Washington Post Auction of Haussner’s Building Cancelled – The Baltimore Business Journal… Read More

Maryland casino boom a boon to union membership

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:55:56 EDT

Maryland’s booming casino industry is providing a boost for organized labor in the state, the Baltimore Business Journal reports in this week's premium-content edition. The union boost comes at a time when union membership has been on the decline nationally. Unions have added well more than 1,000 new members among workers at Maryland Live, Hollywood Casino Perryville and Casino at Ocean Downs since those casinos opened.

Above-average number of hurricanes likely this year

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:51:13 EDT

Batten down the hatches: An above-average number of hurricanes are likely in the Atlantic Ocean this year, The Business Journals reported. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates there's a 70 percent chance of 13 to 20 named storms, and seven to 11 of those could become hurricanes. Further, three to six of those hurricanes may have winds of 111 mph or higher.

Baltimore Co. Council approves $2.8B budget, keeps property tax rates flat

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:49:02 EDT

The Baltimore County Council unanimously approved County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's $2.8 billion operating budget and $339 million capital budget for fiscal 2014, the Baltimore Sun reported. In so doing, the council kept the county's property tax rate flat for the 25th consecutive year. The plan also keeps the county income tax rate flat for the 21st year in a row.

Softball Senate offers penny for Pritzker's thoughts

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:47:22 EDT

Judging from Thursday's Senate confirmation hearing, Hyatt Hotels heiress and serial entrepreneur Penny Pritzker should become Commerce secretary soon, The Business Journals reported. Despite heavy criticism, no senators said they'd oppose Pritzker's nomination, which had to be a disappointment to members of Unite Hear, a labor union that urged senators to vote against her because of Hyatt's labor practices. The hotel chain was founded by Pritzker's father, and she serves as a director.

Howard Co. Council passes $923M budget, $2.7M higher than requested

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:46:14 EDT

The Howard County Council approved a $923.5 million budget Thursday that is $2.7 million higher than that proposed by County Executive Ken Ulman a month ago, the Baltimore Sun reported. The general fund spending plan increases allocations for police and schools while not raising property or income taxes.

Electronic dance concert Moonrise Festival canceled

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:43:53 EDT

A new electronic dance concert — termed the Moonrise Festival — which was expected to draw thousands to South Baltimore, has been canceled after organizers failed to obtain the necessary permits, city officials said Thursday, as reported by the Baltimore Sun. Planned for the weekend of June 8-9 in Port Covington, the festival had been promoted as a successor to the long-running Starscape Festival, which city officials said could not return to Fort Armistead Park because of safety problems at…