Recent stories by Joe Burris

8:19 AM CDT, May 17, 2013

Runway closures scheduled for BWI this weekend

Baltimore/Washington International Airport said on Thursday that scheduled airfield improvements will prompt closures on both of its primary commercial runways this weekend.

7:05 PM CDT, May 16, 2013

'Congressional hearings' help Howard students embrace the Constitution

Being called to a congressional hearing can be an intimidating experience for national leaders, business executives and even elected officials.

11:30 PM CDT, May 17, 2013

PREAKNESS 2013

Preakness Stakes road closures

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation has posted road closures and traffic modifications for Saturday's 138th running of the Preakness Stakes and InfieldFest at Pimlico Race Course.

8:22 AM CDT, May 16, 2013

Traffic: Incident in Baltimore Co. on inner loop of I-695

A single-vehicle collision in Baltimore County on the inner loop of 695 at the Pulaski Highway exit has closed the right inner loop shoulder at 9:13 a.m., on Thursday, said the state Department of Transportation.

4:56 PM CDT, May 16, 2013

New principal adds to wave of transition at Annapolis Area Christian School

What started for Robert McCollum as a two-year leave of absence from a teaching job in Chicago has expanded into a five-year stint guiding 300 students in a Christian school in Bogota, Colombia.

12:06 PM CDT, May 15, 2013

Traffic: Disabled vehicle at Bore 1 of Fort McHenry Tunnel

A disabled vehicle in Baltimore City on Interstate 95 South/North at Bore 1 of the Fort McHenry Tunnel has closed one of four southbound tunnel lanes at 8:48 a.m.

2:50 PM CDT, May 16, 2013

Bomb threat on Old Mill school campus investigated

An 18-year-old man was arrested and accused of making a false bomb threat on Thursday that targeted the Old Mill school campus in Millersville, Anne Arundel County police said.

6:19 PM CDT, May 15, 2013

Attorney for student suspended in pastry gun incident says no resolution reached

An attorney for the family of an Anne Arundel County 7-year-old suspended from school after being accused of nibbling a pastry into the shape of a gun says he met with school officials Wednesday in an attempt have the student's suspension expunged, but no resolution was reached.

8:06 AM CDT, May 14, 2013

Traffic: Collision on inner loop of I-695 in Baltimore Co.

A three-vehicle collision in Baltimore County on the inner loop of Interstate 695 at Liberty Road has closed one of four traffic lanes and the right merge lane at 8:53 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:16 AM CDT, May 10, 2013

Traffic: 2 traffic incidents close lanes in Baltimore Co.

Two traffic incidents in Baltimore County have forced several lane closures during Friday morning rush hour, according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:12 AM CDT, May 13, 2013

Traffic: Two incidents on I-695 close lanes, shoulders

Two collisions in Baltimore suburbs, including a three-vehicle collision in Anne Arundel County, have forced lane closures during Monday morning's rush hour, according to the state Department of Transportation.

1:22 PM CDT, May 10, 2013

Pedestrian fatally struck in Pikesville

A male pedestrian was fatally struck in Pikesville while crossing the road on Friday morning, according to Baltimore County Police.

9:09 AM CDT, May 12, 2013

Mother knew best for daughter, and now they'll graduate together at HCC

As a mother, Howard Community College student Sonia Halboni believes she always has her children's best interests at heart, yet she can remember once when her peers didn't concur.

7:03 PM CDT, May 9, 2013

Arundel Casino Dealer School bets on growing needs at Maryland Live

The course is "Introduction to Casino Gambling," but upon entering the classroom, one might be tempted to place a bet at the roulette wheel, the craps table or any of the other table game layouts.

8:15 AM CDT, May 9, 2013

Traffic: Three-vehicle collision in Baltimore City

A three-vehicle collision in Baltimore City on Interstate 95 South prior to the Keith Avenue exit has closed one of four southbound lanes and one of two southbound shoulders at 8:58 a.m., on Thursday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:15 AM CDT, May 7, 2013

Traffic: Disabled vehicle in Balto. Co. forces lane closures

A disabled vehicle on Interstate 95 South prior to the White Marsh Boulevard exit in Baltimore County has now forced closure of three southbound lanes on Tuesday morning, according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:10 AM CDT, May 6, 2013

Monday traffic: Crash in Arundel Co., Charles St. detour

A one-vehicle collision in Anne Arundel County on the Baltimore Washington Parkway South at MD 32 has closed one of two southbound traffic lanes and one of two southbound shoulders at 7:53 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:19 AM CDT, May 8, 2013

Traffic: 4-vehicle collision closes all lanes on MD 924 in Harford

All lanes have been closed in both directions on MD 924 in Harford County due to a four-vehicle collision, one of three incidents affecting the close of Wednesday morning's rush hour, according to the state Department of Transportation.

4:41 PM CDT, May 2, 2013

Burleigh Manor Middle student state winner in Google logo design contest

Someday, Burleigh Manor seventh-grader Lauren Shen might go to Google and see what the Internet search engine is displaying to millions of users throughout the country: her artwork.

5:55 PM CDT, May 2, 2013

Anne Arundel athletes say message of '42' still relevant

Arundel High School sophomore Chloe Hill entered a screening of the motion picture "42" on Thursday indebted to the film's main character, baseball player Jackie Robinson.

7:52 AM CDT, May 2, 2013

Weekend road closures for FlowerMart

Roads at Mount Vernon Place in and around this weekend's FlowerMart event will be closed from Thursday at 3 p.m. to Saturday at 11 p.m., FlowerMart officials said on their website.

7:33 AM CDT, May 2, 2013

Thursday traffic: Incidents in Baltimore Co., Anne Arundel Co.

Two roadway incidents in Baltimore-area suburbs forced lane closures during Thursday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:25 AM CDT, April 29, 2013

Monday traffic: Incidents on Baltimore-area interstates

Separate incidents on Baltimore-area interstates forced lane closures at the close of Monday's rush hour, according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:43 AM CDT, May 1, 2013

Wednesday traffic: Four incidents on local roadways

Four incidents, including a four-vehicle collision in Anne Arundel County that has shut down three lanes, hampered Wednesday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

5:47 PM CDT, April 25, 2013

O'Malley taps Odenton student to serve on state school board

Arundel High School junior Christian Hodges was recently selected to serve on the Maryland State Board of Education as its student member, a position that places another item on his already loaded agenda.

8:07 AM CDT, April 24, 2013

Traffic: Lanes in Harford Co. closed due to emergency roadwork

Emergency roadwork in Harford County on North Union Avenue east and west at Congress Avenue has closed all eastbound traffic at 8:42 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

9:39 AM CDT, April 23, 2013

Mountain Road in Pasadena reopened after suspicious item deemed safe

Mountain Road (MD 177) in Pasadena was closed in both directions on Tuesday morning as Anne Arundel County Fire Department officials investigated what it deemed was a suspicious item near a dumpster, but about an hour later county police said the state highway had been reopened after the item was deemed safe.

8:28 AM CDT, April 23, 2013

Traffic: Police activity closes all lanes on 177 in Arundel

All lanes are closed on MD 177 in both directions in Anne Arundel County at 9:11 a.m. on Tuesday due to what the state Department of Transportation said is police activity. No additional information was given.

7:58 AM CDT, April 19, 2013

Traffic: Crash in Anne Arundel County on MD 100

The state Department of Transportation is reporting a collision in Anne Arundel County on MD 100 at Interstate 97 at 8:43 a.m. No additional information was given.

7:45 AM CDT, April 30, 2013

Tuesday traffic: No incidents reported

After earlier incidents on interstates in Baltimore County and Baltimore City, area traffic moved without incident-related lane closures at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

5:57 PM CDT, April 25, 2013

Academy of Finance students cash in on money matters

You know you're exceptional at managing money when your parents come to you to borrow an occasional $10 or $20 — and you're just 7 years old.

7:57 AM CDT, April 22, 2013

Monday traffic: Incidents on 3 highways force lane closures

Three incidents on Baltimore-area highways, including a three-vehicle collision in Anne Arundel County that closed all westbound lanes on MD 100 at 8:33 a.m., disrupted Monday morning's rush hour, according to the state Department of Transportation.

9:00 PM CDT, April 19, 2013

Maryland uncles of Boston marathon bombing suspects speak out

An uncle of the two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings said his nephews had brought shame to his family and ethnicity, while their father insisted they were innocent and had been framed.

3:14 PM CDT, April 18, 2013

Broadneck High junior named student member of school board

Even after placing her name in the running to become the next student member of the Anne Arundel County school board, Broadneck High School junior Else Drooff wasn't certain she wanted the job.

7:10 PM CDT, April 18, 2013

Blue Ribbon adds to spectrum of awards at Folly Quarter Middle School

Folly Quarter Middle School in Ellicott City has been in existence only 10 years, but has already gathered a collection of awards and honors that includes a Healthy Howard Gold Award and being designated a "green" school for environmental awareness.

8:41 AM CDT, April 18, 2013

Ferndale man arrested in connection with bomb threat

Anne Arundel County Police on Thursday arrested a Ferndale man who they said called 911 and threatened a bomb attack similar to that of Monday's explosions at the Boston Marathon that killed three people and left almost 200 others injured.

9:03 AM CDT, April 18, 2013

Pedestrian struck in Randallstown

A pedestrian was struck in Randallstown at Offutt Road and Winands Road on Thursday morning, said Baltimore County Police and Fire Department officials.

6:21 PM CDT, April 16, 2013

Joseph 'Zastrow' Simms, Annapolis and civil rights activist, dies

Joseph "Zastrow" Simms, known as a colorful and compassionate community activist who helped bridge racial and social gaps in Annapolis from as far back as the turbulent 1960s, died Monday.

8:12 AM CDT, April 18, 2013

Traffic: Pedestrian struck in Randallstown, roads closed

Baltimore County police said on Thursday morning that a pedestrian was struck in Randallstown at Offutt Road and Winands Road and said that Winands and Tulsemere Road have been closed.

3:59 PM CDT, April 16, 2013

Carroll Co. police investigating threat at court buildings

Carroll County Circuit and District court buildings will be closed all day Tuesday as the county sheriff's office investigates a bomb threat made to Circuit Court, police said in a statement.

7:56 AM CDT, April 16, 2013

Pasadena men arrested on drug possession charges

Anne Arundel County police on Monday evening arrested two Pasadena men on drug charges after seizing more than three pounds of marijuana and other marijuana items from their residence, said police officials on Tuesday morning in a prepared statement.

7:42 AM CDT, April 17, 2013

Wednesday traffic: Two reports of disabled vehicles in roadways

Three incidents, including two disabled vehicles in roadways, forced lane closures during Wednesday morning's local commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

11:15 AM CDT, April 14, 2013

Oakland Mills principal inspires students by example

The class at Oakland Mills High School was English for Speakers of Other Languages, which meant the students were accustomed to hearty doses of vocabulary.

8:45 AM CDT, April 8, 2013

Driver killed, passenger suffers serious injuries in Arundel motorcycle crash

A motorcycle driver was killed and a passenger suffered life-threatening injuries on Sunday evening in a crash on Veterans Highway at Benfield Boulevard in Millersville, Anne Arundel County Police said on Monday.

6:10 PM CDT, April 13, 2013

Makeshift chariot race event featured at JHU Spring Fair

The last time Johns Hopkins freshman Gracie Golden rode in a shopping cart before Saturday was during her toddler years in a grocery store — and those carts weren't covered in duct tape or pushed at breakneck speed while she held on for dear life.

8:02 AM CDT, April 16, 2013

Traffic: Southbound lanes closed on MD 151 in Baltimore Co.

All southbound traffic lanes were closed on MD 151 South in Baltimore County at 7:41 a.m., due to a one-vehicle collision, one of two incidents that forced lane closures during Tuesday morning rush hour, according to the state Department of Transportation.

11:22 AM CDT, April 14, 2013

Service dog helps Monarch Academy teacher monitor her diabetes

As Monarch Academy music teacher Kenzie Turk talked about the trials of living with Type 1 diabetes, her service dog, Bear, lay nearby, drifting in and out of a deep sleep.

6:52 AM CDT, April 10, 2013

Wednesday traffic: Single-vehicle collision in Howard Co.

A single-vehicle collision in Howard County on Interstate 95 South at the MD 100 exit has closed two of four traffic lanes and one of two traffic shoulders at 7:39 a.m., Wednesday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:17 AM CDT, April 8, 2013

Traffic: Three collisions on area roadways

Three collisions on area roadways forced lane closures toward the end of Monday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

6:48 AM CDT, April 8, 2013

SPARK fires up physical activity at Annapolis elementary school

At Germantown Elementary School in Annapolis, students receive physical education once a week. Officially, that is.

6:44 AM CDT, April 8, 2013

Howard student says community college path helped her grow by degree

Howard Community College student Katie Dunklee won't name the four-year school — her top choice — that turned her down for admission out of high school, but nowadays she doesn't lament the rejection.

7:01 AM CDT, April 8, 2013

Howard Co. firefighters battle two Sunday night blazes

Howard County firefighters battled two Sunday night blazes in Ellicott City, including one that required assistance from Baltimore County fire officials to get under control, Howard County fire officials said.

8:24 AM CDT, April 15, 2013

Monday traffic: Three-vehicle collision in Baltimore Co.

A one-vehicle crash in Baltimore County on the outer loop of Interstate 695 at the Providence Road exit has closed one of two outer loop shoulders at 9:16 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:20 AM CDT, April 4, 2013

Crash involving 'grave injuries' shuts Rt. 136 in Harford

Incidents in Baltimore suburbs caused lane closures during Thursday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:12 AM CDT, April 3, 2013

Traffic: Collision on I-70 East closes eastbound lane, shoulder

A one-vehicle collision on Interstate 70 East in Howard County closed one of two eastbound traffic lanes and one of two eastbound traffic shoulders on Wednesday at 8:19 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

12:19 PM CDT, April 8, 2013

Man fatally shot in Baltimore early Monday morning

With blood still streaked on the doorway of a Southwest Baltimore home where a man was shot earlier in the morning, a woman who rented a room there nonchalantly recalled hearing the four shots.

7:21 AM CDT, April 5, 2013

Friday traffic: Incident on I-95 in Baltimore County

A two-vehicle incident in Baltimore County on Interstate 95 at mile marker 69.5 has closed one of two southbound shoulders as of 8:09 a.m. Friday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

6:24 PM CDT, April 2, 2013

Student with loaded gun taken into custody at Glen Burnie High

A 15-year-old student at Glen Burnie High who police say went to the school Tuesday with a loaded .22-caliber handgun was arrested and charged as a juvenile with a weapons violation.

7:27 AM CDT, April 9, 2013

Traffic: 2-vehicle collision on MD 100 W. in Anne Arundel

A two-vehicle collision in Anne Arundel County on MD 100 West at Arundel Mills Boulevard has closed one of two westbound lanes and one of two westbound shoulders at 8:06 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

1:25 PM CDT, March 28, 2013

Truck pull aims to spur interest in trucking industry jobs

Picture a one-sided tug of war in an Anne Arundel Community College parking lot: At one end of the rope is a group of students, digging heels against the asphalt to gain traction. The other end is tied to a delivery truck set in neutral, its 14,000 pounds making it a formidable challenger.

7:41 AM CDT, April 2, 2013

Man arrested on human trafficking, prostitution charges pleads guilty

A Washington, D.C., man arrested in July on human trafficking and prostitution charges has pleaded guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence, said the Annapolis Police Department in a prepared statement on Tuesday.

7:20 AM CDT, April 2, 2013

Tuesday traffic: Collisions on northbound roads

Collisions on northbound roads in Baltimore City and Baltimore County caused lane closures during Tuesday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

10:46 AM CDT, March 25, 2013

Great Cookie store at Annapolis Mall robbed

A man robbed the Great Cookie store at Annapolis Mall on Saturday evening, Anne Arundel Police said.

7:51 AM CDT, March 25, 2013

Monday traffic: Collisions in Baltimore, Anne Arundel

Morning incidents on Baltimore-area interstates continue to snarl Monday morning's snowy commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

11:00 AM CDT, March 25, 2013

Police break up underage drinking party in Severna Park

Anne Arundel police on Monday reported breaking up an underage drinking party at a Severna Park residence, where nearly two dozen juveniles were charged, including one that police said fell out of a second story window as he attempted to avoid detection.

6:12 PM CDT, March 24, 2013

Fort Meade VA Outpatient clinic advances effort to serve women veterans

When retired Master Sgt. Sheryl A. Webb left the U.S. Army in 1997, she was scarcely aware of services that U.S. Veterans Administration hospitals offered specifically for women.

12:00 PM CDT, March 24, 2013

School projects get green light, but officials say more fiscal green needed

The list is long enough to give contractors a stiff workout. There are roof repairs and resurfacing due for Georgetown East Elementary School and painting for George Fox Middle School.

4:09 PM CDT, March 21, 2013

Phelps Luck paraeducator in spotlight as national honoree

For those who believe Phelps Luck Elementary School paraeducator Donna Schulze is too outspoken or too uncompromising on issues relating to her profession, she's got a message for you: Too bad.

8:04 AM CDT, March 20, 2013

Annapolis man arrested for marijuana possession, according to police

An 18-year old Annapolis resident who last week was arrested and charged with marijuana possession on a school bus at Annapolis High School was arrested on Tuesday night at an apartment and charged with marijuana possession, according to Annapolis police.

8:19 PM CDT, March 18, 2013

Attorney for student who was suspended for gun-shaped pastry files appeal

An attorney for an Anne Arundel County 7-year-old suspended from school for nibbling a breakfast pastry into the shape of a pistol is seeking to have the student's record expunged, and said he plans to appeal to Maryland's highest court if necessary.

7:28 PM CDT, March 20, 2013

Jennings says bill responds to student's gun-shaped pastry incident

A state senator told colleagues Wednesday that a bill to prohibit school systems from suspending children who make gun gestures or have objects that look like a gun is needed because "this has gotten out of hand."

9:06 AM CDT, March 18, 2013

Fight in Annapolis High cafeteria may lead to charges against seven students

Seven students at Annapolis High School could face criminal charges stemming from a Monday morning fracas in the school's cafeteria, according to Anne Arundel County police and school officials.

5:46 PM CDT, March 14, 2013

AACC's elevator pitch competition tests the ups and down of business

The way Anne Arundel Community College student Jesse Alton sees it, the world is one big elevator — hopefully, going up.

8:24 AM CDT, March 20, 2013

Traffic: Collisions in Baltimore, Anne Arundel counties

Three traffic incidents, including two in Anne Arundel County, forced lane closures toward the end of Wednesday's rush hour, according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:07 AM CDT, March 14, 2013

Several morning incidents around Baltimore snarl commute

Several incidents including two on the inner loop of Interstate 695, forced lane closures during Thursday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:55 AM CDT, March 18, 2013

Monday traffic: Two-vehicle collision in Baltimore Co.

A two-vehicle collision in Baltimore County on the inner loop of I-695 at the MD 129 Park Heights Avenue exit has closed one of two inner loop shoulders at 8:30 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

3:11 PM CDT, March 14, 2013

Baltimore County police identify woman killed in hit-and-run accident

A 62-year-old Baltimore County woman was killed in a hit-and-run on Interstate 695 on Thursday morning, Maryland State Police said.

6:30 PM CDT, March 14, 2013

Howard EMS program combines technology and real-world experience to save lives

Inside a classroom at Howard Community College's new health sciences building are computerized mannequin patients, a replica ambulance and other devices that place students in simulated life-and-death situations.

8:24 AM CDT, March 13, 2013

Traffic: Incident in Anne Arundel on US 50 East

An incident in Anne Arundel County on US 50 East at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge has closed one of two eastbound traffic lanes at 9:13 a.m., on Thursday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:22 PM CDT, March 14, 2013

Driver, passenger in critical condition after car strikes utility pole

A driver on an Anne Arundel County road Wednesday evening lost control of his vehicle and struck a utility pole, leaving him and a female passenger with critical injuries at Maryland Shock Trauma, according to Anne Arundel police.

8:35 AM CDT, March 12, 2013

Tuesday traffic: Disabled vehicle in Baltimore City

A disabled vehicle in the roadway in Baltimore City on Interstate 895 South past the Lombard Street exit has the southbound shoulder closed at 9:24 a.m., on Tuesday, the state Department of Transportation said. It is one of several disabled vehicles in the roadway the transportation authority reported during the rainy commute.

5:49 PM CDT, March 10, 2013

Anne Arundel delegation backs mix of elected, appointed seats on school board

The Anne Arundel County lawmakers have voted in favor of a bill that would change the makeup the of county's school board from all-appointed to a mix of elected and appointed, according to Del. Steve Schuh, the bill's co-sponsor.

6:18 AM CDT, March 14, 2013

Baltimore police find missing person believed to be suicidal

Baltimore City Police said on Thursday morning that a missing person they were seeking on Thursday morning has been found safe and unharmed.

8:17 AM CDT, March 11, 2013

Monday traffic: Incident in Anne Arundel Co. closes off-ramp lane

An incident in Anne Arundel County on the inner loop of Interstate 695 at MD 295 at 8:45 a.m., on Monday closed one of two inner loop right off-ramp lanes and one of two inner loop off-ramp shoulders, according to the state Department of Transportation.

6:02 PM CDT, March 10, 2013

Maryland school systems study later start for high schools

It is 6:45 a.m. and Severna Park High School freshman Chelsea Rogers has a decision to make: skip the most important meal of the day or skip the school bus.

7:22 PM CST, March 7, 2013

Legislators again raise issue of school board's makeup

A series of bills in the Maryland General Assembly is part of a perennial attempt by Anne Arundel County lawmakers to change the selection process for the county's Board of Education.

8:37 AM CST, March 7, 2013

Thursday traffic: Incidents in Balto. City, Balto. County

Three local traffic incidents, including two in Baltimore County, hampered traffic toward the end of Thursday morning's rush hour, according to the state Department of Transportation.

6:01 PM CST, March 7, 2013

Howard County schools' emphasis on healthful eating earns national honor

Students at Howard High School emerge from cafeteria lines with plates as green as well-manicured lawns. They reach for steamed broccoli and fresh lettuce as quickly as they do macaroni and cheese and popcorn chicken. And they say they their healthful eating habits extend beyond school hours.

4:13 PM CST, March 7, 2013

Phoenix Annapolis assistant principal named to lead new Phoenix Academy

When John Thompson was growing up in a blue-collar area of Pittsburgh, he knew he likely wouldn't become a third-generation steelworker.

5:18 PM CST, March 7, 2013

Students' strong memories fuel new Howard County Arts Council exhibit

The object was to depict a vivid memory on colored paper, creating a narrative of depth and symmetry.

8:36 AM CST, March 4, 2013

Monday traffic: Emergency road work closes lanes on I-695

Emergency roadwork on the outer loop of Interstate 695 at Chesaco Avenue has closed one of four traffic lanes and one of two shoulders at 9:24 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:30 AM CST, March 1, 2013

Traffic: Two vehicle crash on I-95 North

A two-vehicle collision in Interstate 83 North past Ruxton Road in Baltimore County at 9:08 a.m. Friday has closed one of two northbound shoulders, according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:41 AM CST, March 5, 2013

Maryland traffic: Two crashes in Baltimore County

A vehicle fire in Baltimore County on the inner loop of 695 at Westland Boulevard has two inner loop traffic lanes and one inner loop shoulder closed at 8:25 a.m. This was one of two Baltimore County incidents hampering rush hour on Tuesday morning, according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:28 AM CST, February 27, 2013

Wednesday traffic: 3-vehicle accident on US 50 East

A three-vehicle accident at US 50 East at Rowe Boulevard in the Annapolis area has hampered the morning commute south of Baltimore at 9 a.m., on Wednesday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

9:13 PM CST, March 6, 2013

Bay Bridge reopens to passenger vehicles

High winds and an overturned tractor trailer closed the eastbound and westbound spans of the Bay Bridge for several hours Wednesday afternoon. It reopened to passenger vehicles in both directions just after 6 p.m.

10:13 PM CST, March 4, 2013

Park Elementary second-grader suspended for making pastry in shape of a gun

A second-grade student at an Anne Arundel County elementary school was suspended for two days Friday after school officials said he chewed a breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun, an incident that has drawn widespread national media attention.

11:43 AM CST, February 26, 2013

Tuesday traffic: Collision in Balto., debris in the roadway in Howard

A collision in Baltimore City and debris in the roadway in Howard County slowed Tuesday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

11:36 AM CST, March 1, 2013

City sheriff's deputy injured when own weapon discharged

A Baltimore City Sheriff's Office deputy suffered a gunshot wound after unintentionally firing the deputy's own firearm in a non-public area of the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center on Friday morning, Sheriff's Office officials said.

4:16 PM CST, February 28, 2013

Italian language instruction taking hold in Howard County schools

You can hear their passion for teaching the language, a Viva Italia! enthusiasm they hope to make infectious to those who sign up for the courses.

8:00 AM CST, February 25, 2013

Traffic slowed by accident on U.S. 40 in Howard County

Morning traffic in the Ellicott City area has been stalled for more than three hours because of an accident on U.S. 40 at Normandy Center Drive/Normandy Woods Drive westbound at 5:17 that closed the right turning lane and shoulder.

4:24 PM CST, March 6, 2013

With courthouse closed, couple ties the knot at Annapolis Bookstore

The bride looked radiant in her pink and white dress. The groom was dapper in his business suit. The ceremony backdrop consisted of books on shelves, books on tables and a backroom cafe with patrons who seemed oblivious to the whole thing.

8:24 AM CST, February 28, 2013

Thursday Traffic: Collision on inner loop of I-695

The state Department of Transportation reported a collision on the inner loop of Interstate 695 prior to Exit 16 (Interstate 70) in Baltimore County at 9:10 a.m.

8:48 AM CST, February 22, 2013

Traffic: Accident on I-695 at Exit 29B around 9:30 a.m.

The state Department of Transportation reported an accident at Interstate 695 at Exit 29B (MD 542/Loch Raven Boulevard) in Baltimore County around 9:30 a.m. Friday. No additional information was given.

6:49 PM CST, February 21, 2013

Howard resident recalls tenure, and terror, aboard USS Intrepid

As Henry Mouzon Sr. conjures memories of his tenure aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid during World War II, he serves notice that, at age 87, his mind is still as sturdy as the 41,000-ton ship that carried him to the shores of East Asia and brought him home again.

7:26 AM CST, February 18, 2013

Traffic: Incident on I-895 closes entrance ramp around 8 a.m.

An incident on Interstate 895 north of Exit 9 northbound has closed the entrance ramp around 8 a.m. Monday, state Department of Transportation officials said.

6:08 PM CST, February 21, 2013

School board working behind scenes to smooth path for $1 billion budget request

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education has approved an operating budget request that for the first time surpasses the $1 billion mark, and members say they're preparing to cross yet another unfamiliar threshold: working with a new county executive to enact the budget plan.

6:58 AM CST, February 21, 2013

Thursday traffic jammed by fatal crash on I-695

Traffic Morning commute snarled by accidents, including two with injury

7:17 PM CST, February 8, 2013

Teacher is taped screaming at Arundel Middle student

An Arundel Middle School student was issued a juvenile citation Tuesday after two classmates told school officials that he threatened them with a 3-inch knife, one of two incidents at the Odenton school this week.

7:27 PM CST, February 20, 2013

Anne Arundel school board adopts $1.01 billion operating budget

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education on Wednesday adopted a $1.01 billion operating budget request that marks a 3.2-percent increase over the current year's budget, and includes $16 million for employee raises.

6:55 PM CST, February 19, 2013

UMES police say '20 to 30' people may have witnessed stabbing

During a packed town hall meeting at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore Tuesday, campus police said as many as 30 people may have witnessed the death of student Edmond A. St. Clair over the weekend and asked students with information to come forward.

6:53 AM CST, February 5, 2013

Tuesday traffic slowed by fatal accident on Security Blvd.

An accident that killed a pedestrian along Security Boulevard in Baltimore County early Tuesday has closed the roadway between Kernan Drive and Robert Myers Boulevard and caused major traffic delays, according to Baltimore County Police.

8:05 AM CST, February 7, 2013

Traffic: Accident with injury on I-95 at Exit 77

An accident with injury on Interstate 95 at Exit 77 (MD 24/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway) northbound in Harford County has the left, shoulder, right shoulder and through lanes closed at 8:42 a.m., the state Department of Transportation said on Thursday.

6:28 AM CST, February 19, 2013

Tuesday traffic: Accident on I-95 at Exit 80

The state Department of Transportation reported an accident on Interstate 95 at Exit 80 (MD 543/Creswell Road) around 7 a.m. Tuesday. No additional details were given.

9:27 PM CST, February 7, 2013

Student's idea to aid the Chesapeake Bay nets $5,000 grant

Robert Prettyman walked along the uneven ground surrounding Anne Arundel Community College's resource management building and pointed to soil erosion, storm runoff and other evidence that the area is losing its battle against the elements.

2:31 PM CST, February 4, 2013

Repairs continue to water main break on Newkirk Street

Repairs continued Monday to a water main break at Canton Industrial Park that had created a sinkhole over the weekend on South Newkirk Street, city Department of Public Works officials said.

8:31 AM CST, February 8, 2013

Traffic: Accident on I-95 at Exit 50 at around 9:12 a.m.

The state Department of Transportation reported an accident on Interstate 95 at Exit 50 (US 1/Caton Avenue) around 9:12 a.m. No additional information was given.

9:36 PM CST, February 7, 2013

HCC faculty work to serve school's foreign student body

Some foreign-born students at Howard Community College enter professor Mary Beth Furst's business class, sit attentively through instruction and say next to nothing.

6:24 PM CST, February 4, 2013

Parents to pull kids from school, businesses to close for parade

Dizzy with the thrill of a Super Bowl victory — and late-night revelry — Ravens fans spent Monday stocking up on purple gear and planning to close offices and pull children out of school for Tuesday's victory parade.

8:41 PM CST, February 17, 2013

From Lime Kiln Middle School to the final frontier

They use words most likely to be heard at a Scripps National Spelling Bee: chryseobacterium, aquaticum or trypticase.

7:16 AM CST, February 19, 2013

Tuesday traffic: Accidents on I-95, I-695

An accident involving four vehicles on Interstate 695 near Camp Meade Road north of Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport in Anne Arundel County had closed one inner loop lane and the righthand shoulder as of about 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation.

9:29 AM CST, February 6, 2013

Traffic: Vehicle overturns, downs pole in Severna Park

Traffic is closed in both directions at Route 648 and Hill Road in Severna Park Wednesday morning after a vehicle struck a pole and overturned, Anne Arundel County Police said.

12:18 PM CST, January 25, 2013

Rail service between Baltimore, DC restored after electrical problems

Rail service between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., which had been suspended for about five hours because of the electrical problem on the Penn Line MARC Train 415, has been restored, said the Maryland Transit Administration.

7:01 PM CST, January 24, 2013

School board seeks diverse funding for security, mental health initiatives

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education voted this week not to support Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's opposition to a state bill that would use video lottery proceeds for security and health services at schools.

9:29 PM CST, February 6, 2013

Man allegedly trespassed at school, had high-powered guns at home

Anne Arundel County police found a stash of high-powered weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle and an Uzi carbine, at the home of a 25-year-old man who they said entered North County High School in Glen Burnie through a back door.

6:40 AM CST, February 4, 2013

Traffic: Crashes in Baltimore, Anne Arundel counties

An accident on Interstate 95 North at Exit 62 (Interstate 895 North/Rosedale) in Baltimore County southbound forced closure of the right lane and shoulder as of 7 a.m., in one of two accidents that occurred at the start of Monday morning's commute, the state Department of Transportation said.

4:45 PM CST, January 27, 2013

Severn School, Chesapeake Academy to merge

Severn School and Chesapeake Academy will merge July 1 to create the largest independent school in Anne Arundel County, school officials said last week.

8:30 AM CST, January 18, 2013

Traffic: Two accidents with injuries stall area traffic

Two accidents with injuries hampered the morning commute, including one on MD 22 at US 40 North (Philadelphia Boulevard) eastbound in the Aberdeen area that closed the right exit ramp at 9:11 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:15 AM CST, January 17, 2013

Thursday traffic: Harford accident stalls commute

An accident with injury in Harford County hampered Thursday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation.

7:51 AM CST, January 22, 2013

Traffic: Accident on I-95 South in Baltimore

An accident on Interstate 95 South at Exit 55 (East McComas Street) northbound in Baltimore has closed the right lane around 8:30 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

8:05 AM CST, January 14, 2013

Monday traffic: 2 accidents with injury stall morning commute

Two accidents with injury hampered the Monday morning commute, including a crash on US 50 near MD 97/Collingwood Road westbound that has the left lane and left shoulder closed as of 8:32 a.m.

9:42 AM CST, January 18, 2013

Motorist crashes into parked tractor trailer on Interstate 95

A man was critically injured in Laurel on Friday morning when his car veered off Interstate 95 and crashed into the rear of a parked tractor trailer, Maryland State Police said.

9:59 PM CST, January 20, 2013

Superintendent, teachers union debate use of health care surplus

When first-year Superintendent Renee Foose presented her first operating budget for Howard County public schools, she lauded the proposal as being just a $7 million increase over last year's budget and said it meets the primary objective of protecting the classroom with no furloughs or decreases to staff.

9:57 PM CST, January 20, 2013

Anne Arundel students use technology to travel to 1700s' London Town

Elementary school students in some Anne Arundel County public schools are learning how good they've got it — in other words, how many wake up in comfy beds to a ready-made breakfast, instead of beginning their day with daunting physical chores or, worse, wearing shackles.

11:50 AM CST, January 12, 2013

Crofton-area school redistricting advances without provision for new school

Anne Arundel County school officials moved forward this week with plans to redistrict schools in the Crofton area without provisions for a possible $38 million elementary school in Odenton — which developers had pledged to build if an age-restriction covenant were lifted to allow a new development.

11:54 AM CST, January 10, 2013

Thursday crash involving MTA bus snarls Arnold traffic

A morning crash on Route 2 in Anne Arundel County involving an MTA bus and two vehicles sent five people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Maryland Transit Administration officials said.

8:49 AM CST, January 8, 2013

Police identify victims in Port Deposit shooting

Maryland State Police Homicide officials on Tuesday said they have identified victims in Monday's triple shooting in Port Deposit that also left the suspected gunman injured.

4:04 PM CST, January 14, 2013

Arundel police charge man with attempted murder after choking incident

Police in Anne Arundel County arrested a man for choking his uncle at a home in Severn and have charged the man with attempted murder.

7:09 AM CST, January 8, 2013

Tuesday forecast: Sunny skies, high of 51

Much of the eastern portion of the U.S. will have moderate temperatures throughout the week, including the Baltimore area, where Tuesday's forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 51 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

10:39 AM CST, January 2, 2013

Ten-year-old girl struck in head during New Year's celebratory shooting

A 10-year-old girl is in critical condition on life support after being struck in the head on Tuesday in what Cecil County Police say appears to be from a bullet fired in the air during New Year's Eve celebrations.

5:01 PM CST, January 3, 2013

Howard mediation center resolving conflicts at schools

It began as many confrontations between students do: with a hard stare between two passing strangers, according to Toni Holmes, a senior at an Ellicott City alternative school. One of the girls told a friend, "I don't like her." Snide remarks about clothing and appearance went back and forth, and then other girls chimed in.

7:13 PM CST, January 2, 2013

Bates Middle School in Annapolis evacuated after boiler explosion

A boiler room explosion at Bates Middle School in Annapolis on Wednesday morning injured two maintenance workers and prompted Anne Arundel County School officials to evacuate the building.

8:41 AM CST, January 10, 2013

Water main problem stalls traffic in Baltimore Co.

Traffic in the Ruxton area of Baltimore County was disrupted on Thursday morning because of a water main problem, State Highway Administration officials said.

7:59 AM CST, January 10, 2013

Police investigating two Wednesday incidents in Baltimore

A man was shot in the leg and another remains in a hospital with serious head lacerations in separate incidents Wednesday that police continue to investigate.

4:34 PM CST, January 10, 2013

Arts council brings music and more to Head Start students

Slim Harrison visits Howard County's Tubman Head Start Center with musical instruments that many preschoolers have never seen, and he brings tales and songs many have never heard.

5:57 PM CST, December 30, 2012

Harold Newton Barr, Army radio operator

Harold Newton Barr, a Baltimore resident and former Army radio operator who announced from a schoolhouse in Germany the death of Adolf Hitler, died at his home Dec. 22 of natural causes. He was 91.

6:58 PM CST, December 27, 2012

Wellness blog serves as voice of hospital, library wellness partnership

Jean Pfefferkorn, a Howard County Public Library staff member, posted an online item about a week ago on seasonal affective disorder, which carries symptoms ranging from increased appetite to suicidal thoughts.

12:31 PM CST, December 30, 2012

Anne Arundel Community College students win digital forensics competition

Anne Arundel Community College students Marcelle Lee of Severna Park and Dustin Shirley of Odenton had never taken a digital forensics course at the school until this past summer, but they are fast learners.

8:52 AM CST, December 26, 2012

Carroll Co. Police fatally shoot hammer-wielding man

Police in Carroll County on Tuesday evening fatally shot a man who is said to have approached an officer wielding a hammer, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

7:51 PM CST, December 25, 2012

River Hill team hoping for repeat in international robotics competition

When students in River Hill High School's Advanced Computer Science classes entered a worldwide high school robotics competition last year that involved programming International Space Station satellites, they figured their chances of winning were mathematically improbable.

8:01 PM CST, January 3, 2013

Heritage Baptist harvests a Golden Apple for feeding local children

Mary Ann Fulford, a member of Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, helped launch a local version of the Backpack Buddies program at the church after she heard about it about four years ago. The national program provides weekend meals to needy children, and Fulford saw a need in her own community.

5:31 PM CST, December 30, 2012

Three men wounded, one critically, in Baltimore gunfire Sunday

Three men were shot in Baltimore on Sunday in three separate incidents, the last of which brought homicide detectives to the scene due to the severity of the man's injuries, city police said.

6:13 PM CST, December 23, 2012

Robert Shipley Auerbach, co-founder of Maryland Green Party

Robert Shipley Auerbach, one of the founding members of the Maryland Green Party and the party's three-time nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives, died Dec. 12 from injuries suffered in a hit-and-run accident that evening in Greenbelt. He was 92.

5:47 PM CST, December 20, 2012

Six schools earn state Blue Ribbon honors

Four Baltimore-area schools are among the six that have earned state Blue Ribbon honors, Maryland Department of Education officials said on Thursday.

5:14 PM CST, December 20, 2012

Arundel superintendent's budget proposal includes $16.6M pay raise

Anne Arundel County schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell has proposed a $1.01 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2014 that includes $16.6 million for employee raises and $4.5 million for increases in health care costs.

8:24 AM CST, December 18, 2012

Man fatally shot in West Baltimore on Monday

A man shot in West Baltimore on Monday evening near Mondawmin Mall died less than an hour later at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore Police said on Tuesday.

9:18 AM CST, December 10, 2012

Baltimore man arrested in domestic assault

A man was stabbed and a woman was assaulted early Saturday morning in Glen Burnie in what appears to be a domestic disturbance between two men and a woman, Anne Arundel County police said.

11:41 AM CST, December 23, 2012

City firefighters extinguish blaze on apartment balcony

A fire broke out on a third-story balcony of an apartment building on Sunday morning, Baltimore City fire officials said.

9:10 PM CST, December 23, 2012

Man's body recovered in Inner Harbor Sunday morning

A man was found dead in the Inner Harbor on Sunday morning, police said.

2:06 PM CST, December 19, 2012

Increased police presence planned at Arundel schools Friday

Anne Arundel County government officials on Wednesday vowed an increased police presence at public schools on Friday amid rumors about a possible school attack that officials say has been determined to be unfounded.

10:20 AM CST, December 18, 2012

State unveils new school accountability system

The Maryland State Department of Education unveiled Monday a new way of assessing accountability of each school in Maryland under the waiver that it received from the federal No Child Left Behind act.

9:48 PM CST, December 5, 2012

Howard County deputy superintendent Brown retires

Howard County schools deputy superintendent of operations Ray Brown is retiring from the system effective Jan., 1, Howard County officials said Wednesday night.

1:06 PM CST, December 4, 2012

Parkville pedestrian struck, killed by vehicle Tuesday morning

A woman was fatally struck by a vehicle in Parkville early Tuesday morning, Baltimore County police said.

7:58 AM CST, December 14, 2012

Man carjacked, assaulted in Annapolis

A man was carjacked and assaulted in Annapolis on Thursday morning, and his car was later found abandoned, said Annapolis police on Friday

9:12 PM CST, December 6, 2012

Burleigh Manor student honored for piano composition

Polly Moser drew inspiration from watching rivers flowing down the mountains during a family hiking trip to California and Nevada.

10:57 PM CST, December 5, 2012

Arundel school board receives Crofton-area redistricting plan

The Anne Arundel school board received Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's redistricting recommendation Wednesday for Crofton-area schools, which delays plans to draw boundaries for a $38 million elementary school in Odenton that a developer has promised but some area residents have opposed.

8:49 PM CST, December 3, 2012

Man critically injured in Dundalk house fire

A man was rescued this morning by firefighters at a dwelling in Dundalk, officials said.

8:19 AM CST, December 13, 2012

About 50 Harford Co. firefighters work to control Havre de Grace blaze

About 50 Harford County fire fighters battled an early morning, two-alarm blaze Thursday in Havre de Grace, according to Harford County fire officials.

9:24 PM CST, December 4, 2012

Century High School in Eldersburg evacuated after threat

Century High School in Sykesville was evacuated Tuesday afternoon after threatening graffiti was written on a bathroom wall, Carroll County school officials said.

2:50 PM CST, December 3, 2012

Pasadena boy, aunt attacked by family dogs

Anne Arundel County police provided more details Monday about a weekend incident where a boy and his aunt were attacked by the family's dogs.

9:50 AM CST, December 3, 2012

Parkville woman fatally stabbed near home fled before being caught, police say

Baltimore County police said that a woman found fatally stabbed on a street in Parkville on Sunday morning in what is believed to be a domestic dispute attempted to flee her residence before being caught by the suspect.

9:34 PM CST, November 29, 2012

Concerns, suggestions conveyed at Arundel schools special-needs roundtable

Kathy Flaherty of Severna Park, who has a special-needs child in third grade, wanted to know more about assistance for "twice-exceptional" students, who have disabilities but are intellectually gifted. Mark Turner of Odenton, who has a special-needs eighth-grader, suggested simplifying the language in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.

11:57 AM CST, December 6, 2012

Baltimore Co. police take suicidal resident into custody

Baltimore County police tactical and hostage negotiating teams responded to an incident Thursday morning in Cockeysville after receiving a call that a resident there was suicidal.

9:10 AM CST, December 10, 2012

Man shot in Pasadena

Anne Arundel County police are looking for about a dozen young men involved in a shooting of a 50-year old man Saturday afternoon in Pasadena, officials said.

8:10 PM CST, December 6, 2012

Judge upholds Howard school board's request to oust Dyer

An administrative law judge on Wednesday ruled that former Howard County school board member Allen Dyer committed "misconduct in office," and upheld the county school board's request to remove him from the panel, even though Dyer's term ended Monday.

5:51 PM CST, November 16, 2012

Broadneck High teacher reassigned amid investigation

An Anne Arundel County high school teacher and basketball coach has been reassigned amid an investigation that school officials have described as a matter involving student safety.

4:49 PM CST, December 13, 2012

Howard schools deputy retiring to devote more time to other interests

Howard County schools' Deputy Superintendent Ray Brown says he contemplated retiring in the spring after a 41-year career but opted to stay on with the district at the request of new Superintendent Renee Foose.

7:38 PM CST, December 11, 2012

Man killed in hit-and-run accident in Anne Arundel County

Maryland State Police said Tuesday that they are looking for a driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident on Interstate 97 in Anne Arundel County who may have continued driving despite the victim's being on the hood of the vehicle for hundreds of feet.

4:02 PM CST, November 25, 2012

Anne Arundel recreation center offers CPR for pets

Ask any of the attendees of the pet first-aid and CPR class in Anne Arundel County why they would take such a course and each has the same response: Pets are like family, and you take care of family.

4:41 PM CST, November 7, 2012

Mix of incumbents, challengers win Howard, Carroll school board seats

Voters in Howard and Carroll counties elected a mix of incumbents and challengers in school board elections Tuesday.

9:21 AM CST, December 10, 2012

Man assaulted in strong arm robbery in Laurel

Anne Arundel County police are looking for three teens involved in a strong-arm robbery Friday night in Laurel.

7:19 PM CST, November 15, 2012

Howard school board apologizes for earlier segregation

On the day that the Howard County school board apologized for the system's treatment of African-American students during segregation, Dottie Cook thought back to her middle school days, when she received a hand-me-down education that included tattered books with her uncle's name written in them.

9:01 PM CST, November 29, 2012

Howard elementary schools offer lessons in Chinese, Spanish

When you enter Julie Chang's world languages class at Waverly Elementary School in Ellicott City, you leave English at the door. Then, if you know the answer to a question and are told to "qing ju shou," you raise your hand. If you're told, "bu shou hua," then you must keep quiet. And if someone asks about the weather and it's sunny outside, you say, "yin tian."

4:51 PM CST, November 21, 2012

Dyer's term on school board coming to end amid ouster attempt

Allen Dyer's term on the Howard County school board is scheduled to expire Dec. 3, but it could end at any moment.

4:05 PM CST, November 23, 2012

AACC nursing class simulates emergency room environment

During Anne Arundel Community College's emergency department simulation, nursing professor Kathy Jo Keever played a patient brought to an emergency room after falling from a tree stand while trying to shoot a 14-point buck.

10:38 PM CST, November 27, 2012

Northwestern students, parents stunned to hear of closing

On Wednesday, the main topic of conversation at Northwestern High School will likely be the school's impending closing and what the move might mean to the current student body.

9:15 PM CDT, November 1, 2012

Howard school board candidates make final push before Tuesday election

On a day that the storm Sandy kept most of the region indoors, Howard school board candidate Robert Ballinger saw an opportunity. With Election Day about a week away, he figured he'd reach out via email to Howard residents who were likely at home surfing the Web.

3:11 PM CDT, November 1, 2012

Anne Arundel school officials, Leopold at odds again

Tensions between Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold and the school system over funding have been well documented, but Leopold's recent comments at a meeting with residents appear to have further strained the already contentious relationship.

2:19 PM CDT, October 28, 2012

Maryland braces for Sandy

As the eye of Hurricane Sandy loomed over the waters some 500 miles southeast of Washington and the monster storm churned toward the Mid-Atlantic coast at 15 miles per hour, Marylanders braced Sunday for the arrival of a weather system some forecasters were calling potentially the most damaging to hit the United States in 75 years.

5:59 PM CST, November 15, 2012

St. John's College tops in nation among students who earn humanities Ph.D.s

In the 75th year of its discussion-based curriculum centered on great books from the Western tradition, St. John's College in Annapolis has been ranked as the top school in the nation whose undergraduates go on to earn doctorates in the humanities.

3:27 PM CST, November 11, 2012

Howard school system set to move forward after election

After a period of transition that saw its longtime school superintendent retire and infighting among school directors, members of the Howard County school community are hopeful that the new board members will work well together as they shape the county's education policy.

5:47 PM CST, November 8, 2012

Howard County afterschool program teaches manners, etiquette

When students in the Howard County after-school program Can-Teen say "please" and "thank you," they scarcely sound as if they were once nagged or scolded into doing so. Instead, their expressions of gratitude appear to be just that, and they understand why such expressions are warranted.

5:29 PM CST, November 8, 2012

Two programs on school system's TV channel address educational disparities

While many public school systems are gravitating toward the Web to reach audiences about programs, the Anne Arundel school system has turned to an older method to inform the public about its efforts to address purported educational disparities — prime-time television.

4:48 PM CDT, September 6, 2012

Wellness program making inroads in Howard County

Each day while getting dressed, Elkridge Elementary School para-educator Adrienne Grein slips on one of the most important items of her wardrobe — a pedometer, which is part of a popular health and wellness program that has become a hit in the Howard County school system.

4:15 PM CDT, October 25, 2012

Major changes seen in Howard Superintendent Foose's first 100 days

In her first 100 days on the job, Howard County schools Superintendent Renee Foose has revamped the system's legal services, established an office of accountability and called for revision of a redistricting proposal to shift hundreds of students to new schools, a move that some parents have decried.

5:32 PM CDT, October 27, 2012

Hurricane Sandy contributes to long lines for early voting

Voters looking to cast their ballots early found long lines Saturday across Maryland, as the opening of the presidential election met with the urgent preparation for the incoming Hurricane Sandy.

6:26 PM CDT, October 17, 2012

Developers prevented from building school in Odenton

When developers promised to build a $38 million, 700-seat elementary school in Odenton, Anne Arundel County officials embraced the proposal as a way to ease overcrowding in other area schools. They even tentatively gave the school a name: Evergreen Elementary.

12:34 AM CST, November 7, 2012

Two incumbents, challenger elected to Howard school board

Voters in Howard County elected two incumbents and a first-time challenger to the school board on Tuesday.

4:37 PM CDT, October 4, 2012

AACC offers credits for experiences outside classroom

Anne Arundel Community College is offering course credit for those who have accumulated years of skills in a particular field outside the classroom.

6:47 PM CST, November 5, 2012

State task force on concussions hears public testimony

During a public hearing Monday about preventing concussions in student-athletes, the state Board of Physicians questioned why the issue has not been included in a task force's work and offered its assistance.

3:51 PM CDT, September 27, 2012

Singapore educators visit Lindale Middle School

Though 99 percent of Singapore's students pass national exams, a delegation of the city-state's educators recently traveled the globe to Anne Arundel County schools to learn innovative ways to help the other 1 percent succeed.

3:41 PM CDT, September 6, 2012

New AACC president Lindsay making rounds

Dawn Lindsay was walking across the Anne Arundel Community College campus on the first day of classes when she approached a student who appeared lost.

4:08 PM CDT, October 11, 2012

Girls on the Run program teaches self-esteem

Twice a week, dozens of girls can be seen scampering along the track at Harper's Choice Middle School, a workout that will ultimately lead to a 5K run. Before their often-challenging cardio exercise, they take part in brief sessions centered on building self-confidence and reinforcing social skills.

5:52 PM CDT, October 25, 2012

Arundel schools present results of 5-year strategic plan

After the Anne Arundel County school board received its annual update on the system's five-year strategic plan for student achievement, board member Solon Webb directed one question to school officials: "Are we winning or losing?"

7:43 PM CDT, October 23, 2012

Additional security planned at five schools in Harford after bomb threat

The Harford County sheriff's office plans to have additional security Wednesday at five schools after a bomb threat was made.

4:13 PM CDT, October 11, 2012

St. John's College assists students in financial hardship

St. John's College student Eric Fricke attended an ice cream social in September held by the Caritas Society, a group founded at the Annapolis college more than 40 years ago that assists students with financial hardships. At the time, Fricke attended solely for the free ice cream; he couldn't have imagined the group helping him through hardship.

4:07 PM CDT, September 2, 2012

Two shootings reported overnight in N.E. Balto., one fatal

A Baltimore County woman was fatally shot while standing in the front yard of a Northeast Baltimore home early Sunday morning, one of two overnight shootings in the area, police said.

7:58 PM CDT, September 20, 2012

Anne Arundel school board approves teachers' raises

The Anne Arundel County school board approved raises Wednesday for teachers union employees, providing funds for a 2013 fiscal year budget proposal that county officials had struck down.

4:16 PM CDT, October 4, 2012

Thailand delegation visits Howard County school system

Howard County schools officials showcased the system's resources and educational approaches to a delegation of social studies and art supervisors from Thailand this week, joining officials in other local jurisdictions to welcome Asian educators.

3:51 PM CDT, September 13, 2012

Anne Arundel schools excel with STEM programs

The Anne Arundel County school system has one of the most accomplished science, technology, engineering and math programs in the state, garnering national awards while ensuring that its initiatives remain available to all students, according to school officials.

4:08 PM CDT, October 18, 2012

Howard County school system lauded for food service

Mary Klatko grew up in Pennsylvania eating nutritious foods, some fresh from the family garden and cooked from scratch. When she was named Howard County's director of food and nutrition services 26 years ago, she assumed everyone ate that way, and though she would discover the contrary, she still incorporated a healthful-eating approach into the school system's menus.

3:56 PM CDT, August 30, 2012

Annapolis Middle teacher takes part in science fellowship

Annapolis Middle School teacher Beth Foster trumpets the importance of STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — programs for all students, convinced that science and math disciplines aren't, as she puts it, "just for brainiacs."

5:15 PM CDT, September 27, 2012

Linthicum school celebrates winning Orioles contest

Normally, they would be wearing their blue-and-gray school uniforms. But on Thursday, most of the students at St. Philip Neri School in Linthicum dressed in orange and black as they welcomed three Orioles players who congratulated the school for capturing the grand prize in the statewide "Go Orange" school challenge.

7:15 PM CDT, September 24, 2012

Md. students see improvement on AP testing, drop in SAT results

Maryland high school students posted lower marks last year on the SATs but saw increases in Advanced Placement college exam participation and results, according to data released on Monday by the College Board.

6:38 PM CDT, September 21, 2012

Local event raises food allergy awareness

Brandy Dopkin gave her then-11/2-year-old daughter Jordana a snack — a small piece of multigrain bread topped with peanut butter — just before they headed to Jordana's music class. At the time, the child showed no indications of a food allergy.

7:51 PM CDT, August 23, 2012

Arundel sees drop in student suspensions, discipline referrals for black students

Suspensions and other disciplinary actions for African-American students fell at Anne Arundel County schools last year because of new practices, said a school system team examining purported racial disparities in punishments.

4:03 PM CDT, September 13, 2012

Sandy Spring Bank CEO inspires HCC community

Dan Schrider laughs heartily when he thinks back on it now. The morning he was to take the SAT, the then-Atholton High School student overslept. A student who, as he put it, was as focused on fun as he was on schoolwork, he didn't bother to reschedule the college entrance exam.

7:10 PM CDT, August 23, 2012

Kids prepare to move on to middle school

It seemed at times like a remedial class in vocabulary. More than a dozen rising sixth-graders were attending a middle- school preparation event that highlighted words they will likely hear over and over in the coming years.

7:59 PM CDT, August 16, 2012

Howard Conservancy nature camp prepares students to return to classroom

Sabastian and Mason Chizhik enjoy science classes, but they say their teachers often ask questions about nature that leave them searching in vain for answers.

3:53 PM CDT, August 5, 2012

Cousin granted pay raises to central office staff before retiring

Shortly before retiring this summer, Howard County school superintendent Sydney Cousin told employees in the central office that he was giving them a pay raise but did not take the matter before the school board for approval.

6:54 PM CDT, September 2, 2012

Perry Hall shooting victim's father speaks to congregation

The father of a Perry Hall High School student shot on the first day of school in Baltimore County told parishioners at his church on Sunday that his son is "pretty darn close to the road to recovery," and implored parents and children to watch for warning signs among teens to help prevent future incidents.

5:09 PM CDT, August 30, 2012

New Howard superintendent makes rounds on first day of school

While visiting classes on the first day of school, new Howard County Superintendent Renee Foose had a pedometer strapped to her waist as part of a systemwide program for employees that emphasizes health.

3:55 PM CDT, August 9, 2012

Howard teens hone leadership, outreach skills

Many area high school students are concentrating on leisure activities, capitalizing on what remains of their summer. Wilde Lake High School rising junior Ni'Jah Richardson, on the other hand, figured this would be a fine time to improve her communication skills.

4:33 PM CDT, August 2, 2012

River Hill student achieves highest possible score on ACT

Taariq Mohammed has never had a problem keeping academics ahead of sports. The captain of River Hill High's state championship wrestling team recently entered a wrestling camp on the morning he was to discover how well he did on the ACT, the college preparatory exam.

6:11 PM CDT, August 23, 2012

Arundel MSA scores are slightly lower than originally reported

Maryland School Assessment test results have been revised for some Anne Arundel County students, causing the county's overall scores to fall slightly from what was reported earlier.

5:07 PM CDT, August 2, 2012

Campers learn about crime scenes and chemistry

Youngsters opened a classroom door at Crofton Elementary School and entered what appeared to be a crime scene: a masking-tape outline of a body, a hammer, a tennis ball covered with dog hair and a "Caution: Do Not Cross" sign.

7:27 PM CDT, August 27, 2012

City school board reinstates principal who had been fired over alleged cheating

The city school board reinstated a principal Monday night who had been fired by CEO Andrés Alonso over alleged cheating at her school.

10:44 PM CDT, July 19, 2012

No settlement reached in Howard school board case against Dyer

An administrative law judge offered the parties in the dispute between the Howard County school board and board member Allen Dyer a chance to resolve the matter, but after nearly three hours of closed-door discussions Thursday the sides failed to reach a settlement.

3:28 PM CDT, August 9, 2012

Severna Park Library event readies kids and parents for kindergarten

Already, they know their ABCs and their 90 degrees.

2:00 PM CDT, August 17, 2012

Baltimore Co. schools official takes new Howard schools position

Elizabeth Grace Chesney, Baltimore County Public Schools executive director of research, accountability and assessment, was name Howard County schools chief accountability officer during Thursday night's school board meeting.

5:27 PM CDT, August 9, 2012

Howard judge rules against Dyer in lawsuit

A Howard County Circuit Court judge ruled Thursday against school board member Allen Dyer, who sued four fellow members over interviews with candidates for the position of superintendent, claiming that the interviews violated the state Open Meetings Act.

5:48 PM CDT, July 26, 2012

Girls take part in fashion design camp

The girls begin the weeklong junior fashion and design camp on Monday dressed in their usual summertime garb. By the end of the week, however, they display more style and flair, donning skirts instead of shorts or pants, 20 bracelets rather than a few, as well as different color combinations or hairstyles.

5:35 PM CDT, July 19, 2012

Youngsters design their own mobile apps at AACC camp

The instructor for the application software-making camp at Anne Arundel Community College explained that his pupils' inventions must be at least 50 percent original work, to avoid the possibility of copyright infringement. The two dozen campers went to great lengths to ensure that their apps were unique.

2:47 PM CDT, June 22, 2012

Regional 'educator effectiveness academies' begin at Marriotts Ridge High

About a week after most area schools closed, teachers and administrators were back in the classroom, taking part in a summer course that will prepare educators for implementing new standards across the state for the 2013-2014 school year.

6:38 PM CDT, June 14, 2012

HCC program assists black male students

Howard Community College hired Steven Freeman Jr. last fall as a retention specialist, and he soon garnered a reputation as someone students — particularly black men — could rely on for counsel, support and encouragement, whether with academic problems or personal concerns.

5:54 PM CDT, July 26, 2012

Students conduct international science fair at HCC

Grace Gibbons of Mount Airy has worked with horses most of her life, so the rising high school sophomore was fascinated by a Chinese language class at Howard Community College that focused on the development of horse harnesses.

4:58 PM CDT, July 11, 2012

Decision on ousting Dyer from Howard school board might come after his term ends

Oral arguments in the Howard County school board's case against board member Allen Dyer ended Wednesday, with administrative law judge Douglas Koteen setting the close of the case for Sept. 6, the due date for final written arguments.

1:27 PM CDT, July 15, 2012

Firefighters battle two blazes in Baltimore County

Two fires, both two-alarm blazes, broke out in Baltimore County dwellings this weekend, fire officials said Sunday.

5:00 PM CDT, July 12, 2012

Clarksville Elementary is one of best performing schools in area

New Howard County schools Superintendent Renee Foose lauded the system's results on the Maryland School Assessment tests but said she's concerned about the focus that is placed on proficiency exams in general.

3:57 PM CDT, July 12, 2012

Anne Arundel schools among tops in MSA testing performance

4:52 PM CDT, July 16, 2012

Roger A. Bell, astronomy professor

Roger Alistair Bell, a University of Maryland professor of astronomy who specialized in the discovery of physical properties and compositions of stars, died July 1 of complications from Alzheimer's disease at the Dove House in Westminster. The Ashton resident was 76.

6:28 PM CDT, July 13, 2012

Morgan hosts White House forum on concerns of African-American community

A senior White House adviser outlined President Barack Obama's initiatives to make college more affordable and provide assistance to small businesses during an African-American policy forum at Morgan State University on Friday.

9:38 PM CDT, June 7, 2012

Last day of school for students and superintendents

Baltimore County Superintendent Joe A. Hairston looked out this week at 700 elementary students spread out on their school's lawn to celebrate the groundbreaking for a long-awaited new wing.

5:29 PM CDT, June 13, 2012

Arundel teacher wins presidential honor for math, science teaching

Severna Park High School physics teacher Barry Hopkins has been named the only winner in Maryland of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest honor given by the U.S. government to K-12 math and science teachers, Anne Arundel school officials said Wednesday.

4:02 PM CDT, June 10, 2012

Pointers Run unveils students' wall mural during 20th anniversary celebration

Pointers Run Elementary School fourth-grader Ellie Matthews approached the 32-foot-long mural and searched among the more than 600 glazed clay portraits for her place in posterity.

6:53 PM CDT, July 6, 2012

Howard school board member Dyer denies allegations in testimony

Howard County school board member Allen Dyer testified Friday in the case brought by the board to remove him, stating that despite being at odds with some fellow members he has "contributed to a better board of education."

5:51 PM CDT, June 8, 2012

School's out for students in three counties

Not much happens in classrooms on the last day of school, but at Villa Cresta Elementary in Baltimore County, the principal made sure students would remember Friday.

11:35 AM CDT, May 28, 2012

Suspect in city barricade incident identified

A man who police say attacked his girlfriend and shot himself following a barricaded stand-off with police at his Northeast Baltimore home has been identified as Ansley Turner, 28.

9:43 PM CDT, July 1, 2012

Foose takes over as Howard superintendent

Renee Foose's call to education came around the 10th grade, when she says she "fell in love" with biology class. From there, she began a circuitous route to her career, and sometimes she was literally behind the wheel.

4:57 PM CDT, June 21, 2012

Anne Arundel school board adopts budget

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education adopted Wednesday a $977 million operating budget approved by the County Council that provides funding for more than 100 new teachers but does not include employee pay raises.

11:44 AM CDT, May 27, 2012

Kayaker who fell out of craft makes it safely to shore

A kayaker fell out of his craft into the Chesapeake Bay on Saturday night but reached shore safely, Maryland Natural Resources Police reported Sunday.

3:21 PM CDT, June 14, 2012

Anne Arundel schools provide free summer meals

Anne Arundel public schools will start providing free summer meals next week to county children.

5:42 PM CDT, May 17, 2012

Howard school board set to vote again on adequate facilities measure

The Howard County school board is scheduled to reconsider Tuesday a measure that would determine which schools can accommodate new residential development.

6:05 PM CDT, June 5, 2012

New Monarch Academy slated for Laurel

The Children's Guild Institute will open an International Baccalaureate school in Laurel in Anne Arundel County, its third in the Baltimore area, the nonprofit organization said.

4:53 PM CDT, May 27, 2012

UMBC senior joins cross-country ride for cancer victims

The farthest Michelle Wong had ever ridden before was from Baltimore to Washington, a roughly 50-mile bike trek. But the UMBC senior was unfazed by what lay ahead of her Sunday morning as she embarked on a 70-day bicycle journey from Baltimore to Portland, Ore., as part of the Ulman Cancer Fund for young adults' 4K for Cancer ride.

6:10 PM CDT, May 24, 2012

Howard school board approves adequate public facilities chart

The Howard County school board, in the second vote this month, approved a measure that would determine which school communities are designated as capable of absorbing development.

11:14 PM CDT, May 14, 2012

Arundel budget hearing draws crowd to talk about schools

At a crowded County Council budget hearing Monday night, Anne Arundel schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell asked those in the auditorium who had come to voice support for public education to stand.

6:00 PM CDT, May 31, 2012

Bonnie Branch Middle students examine Munich Massacre for winning History Day project

Bonnie Branch Middle School eighth-graders Nick Kundrat and Matt Yagel point to a bar graph made for their school project examining security at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, which ended with 11 athletes killed.

7:15 PM CDT, May 7, 2012

Hearings begin on Howard school board dismissal of Dyer

An administrative hearing to determine whether Howard County school board member Allen Dyer should be removed from the panel opened Monday with Dyer questioning fellow board member Frank Aquino for about three hours.

10:47 AM CDT, May 9, 2012

Judge continues to ask Dyer to move more swiftly in cross-examinations

The administrative judge hearing the Howard school board's request to remove member Allen Dyer continued his repeated urgings Wednesday for Dyer to move more swiftly in cross-examining witnesses and save arguments against the case for when he is asked to testify.

4:11 PM CDT, April 29, 2012

St. John's opens 30th croquet meet with new fight song

If Notre Dame or Michigan decided to change their school fight songs, the moves would likely spark objections from students, alumni and faculty.

8:48 PM CDT, April 25, 2012

Board of Education upholds ruling against Arundel on education funding requirement

The Maryland State Board of Education said Wednesday that Anne Arundel County government underfunded schools by nearly $12 million for the current fiscal year, striking down the county's appeal of an earlier ruling that it failed to meet a state-mandated funding requirement.

4:50 PM CDT, July 5, 2012

Adults learn to dance hula

The Annapolis-area residents sing, dance and chant with near-flawless rhythm and cadence, displaying traditions and cultures from America's only island state.

3:34 PM CDT, June 10, 2012

Arundel school must comply with still-to-be-negotiated charter or be dissolved

The Anne Arundel County school board voted Wednesday to allow Chesapeake Science Point to expand its high school but placed it on two years' probation as part of efforts to address concerns about the charter school.

4:59 PM CDT, May 27, 2012

Firefighters extinguish blaze in RV camper in Jessup

Howard County and Anne Arundel County firefighters extinguished an early-morning blaze Sunday in an RV camper near a home in Jessup, fire officials said.

3:36 PM CDT, May 3, 2012

Author Robison offers hope, encouragement for those with Asperger's syndrome

John Elder Robison taught himself electronics while growing up and was so skilled that despite dropping out of high school in ninth grade, he designed pyrotechnic guitars for the rock group Kiss and sound effects for electronic games.

8:25 PM CDT, May 27, 2012

AACC president Martha Smith reflects on retirement

In one of her final duties as president of Anne Arundel Community College, Martha Smith stood before this year's graduating class during commencement and engaged in a moment of call and response that had all the trappings of a student pep rally.

June 1, 2012

Elected Anne Arundel student board member to spend summer honing leadership skills

Old Mill High School junior Nick Lefavor was elected several months ago as the next student member of the Anne Arundel County school board. And though he says he's familiar with the issues affecting county students, he's taking a couple of summer programs to fine-tune his leadership skills.

9:02 PM CDT, May 27, 2012

Baltimore County police: Dundalk shooting, stabbing tied to home invasion

Baltimore County police said a shooting and stabbing that took place in Dundalk on Sunday morning appear to have occurred during an attempted home invasion.

6:32 PM CDT, April 26, 2012

Howard County Schools Host Cyberbullying Presentations

Cyberbullying became a problem for tech-savvy students well before adults — particularly parents and teachers — knew much about it. For the past decade, that's where Sameer Hinduja has come in.

1:53 PM CDT, May 3, 2012

Anne Arundel school board opposes Annapolis' plans to build garage near elementary school

The Anne Arundel County school board voted unanimously Wednesday to oppose the city of Annapolis' efforts to build a parking garage and mixed-use development on land adjacent to Annapolis Elementary School, echoing sentiments of some residents who have argued vehemently against the project.

10:16 AM CDT, May 4, 2012

Anne Arundel Community College women's lacrosse team is No. 1 in nation

Many in the area know that Anne Arundel Community College has an exceptional women's lacrosse team, but not everyone keeps up with its success. And if ever there's been a season to follow the team, this is it.

7:27 PM CDT, May 15, 2012

Judge in Dyer's hearing says board's charges against him are not clear

The administrative law judge hearing the Howard County school board's case against fellow member Allen Dyer said Tuesday that Dyer's assertion that the board has not clearly spelled out its reasons for wanting him removed is "becoming increasingly more relevant."

10:18 PM CDT, April 4, 2012

Dyer loses in school board primary, still faces ouster

Howard County school board member Allen Dyer, who is battling the board's attempts to oust him, lost his bid for re-election Tuesday, finishing eighth among 14 candidates in a primary in which the top six move on to the November election.

5:46 PM CDT, April 19, 2012

HCC testing untraditional classroom setting

Students take note: The classroom of the future might make it difficult to pass notes or sit where teachers might not call on you to answer questions. Yet you might consider the departure from the traditional setting a change for the better.

3:14 PM CDT, May 11, 2012

Chefs teach students for the day at Severn school

The sizzle echoed through the halls of the Center of Applied Technology North in Severn, emanating from the school's culinary arts baking and pastry lab, where it was joined by a tempting aroma. Normally, a restaurant kitchen would be responsible for such sounds and smells, but this day it was students and the Culinary Institute of America.

5:42 PM CDT, May 17, 2012

South River student awarded $20,000 scholarship

South River High School senior Caitlin Byrnes says her parents have been stressing the importance of college since she was young, and though she listened to the message, she didn't think it applied to her.

10:27 AM CDT, April 12, 2012

Glenelg High Prom Safety Week will feature visit from NASCAR driver

Glenelg High School is gearing up for its prom safe-driving events, which include a scheduled visit from NASCAR driver Kurt Busch.

3:15 PM CDT, May 11, 2012

Single dad goes from unemployment to Howard Community College student of the year

When Mark Chewning was a kid, he dreamed of being an artist. But at some point, the Baltimore resident's dream became all but dormant, giving way to about 27 years in the photograph-retouching business and a stint as supermarket deli clerk, as well as marriage, parenting, unemployment, divorce and self-doubt.

7:26 PM CDT, April 10, 2012

U.S. Department of Education to investigate NAACP complaint against Arundel schools

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights said that it will investigate allegations by the Anne Arundel branch of the NAACP that the county's school system discriminates against African-American students when meting out discipline.

7:40 PM CDT, May 9, 2012

Dyer hearing may be extended into June

The administrative hearing to determine whether Howard County school board member Allen Dyer will be removed from the panel could be extended into June.

6:21 PM CDT, April 12, 2012

South River Spanish teacher wins state foreign language honor

The creators of the language-learning software Rosetta Stone have made it simple to grasp the complexities of Spanish. But can they back it up and Dougie?

6:11 PM CDT, May 24, 2012

HCC student overcomes obstacles, earns degree

On the day before graduating from Howard Community College, Jennie Wang of Columbia considered the arduous road she had traveled and her studies at the Johns Hopkins University that lie ahead. One thought came to mind:

7:32 PM CDT, March 23, 2012

Anne Arundel parents oppose plans to redistrict three elementary schools

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education is scheduled to vote next month on the school system's plans to redistrict three elementary schools in the southern part of the county.

5:10 PM CDT, March 27, 2012

Foose selected as Howard Co. superintendent

The Howard County school board announced on Tuesday morning that it has chosen Renee A. Foose as its next superintendent, making the Baltimore County deputy superintendent the first woman to head the 50,000-student school district.

10:39 PM CDT, March 21, 2012

Arundel High students, parents protest teacher reassignment

Arundel High School students and parents on Wednesday night asked the county school board to reinstate a teacher who has been reassigned pending an investigation.

5:47 PM CDT, April 7, 2012

Baltimore County's new schools chief won over skeptics in Houston

In the crowded glass and steel lobby of the Houston school headquarters, Principal Susan Monaghan paused briefly to touch the shoulder of her boss, a man with far less experience in the education field and young enough to have been her student.

6:09 PM CDT, May 24, 2012

North County student wins Intel Science Fair's top prize

North County High School freshman Jack Andraka stood on the auditorium stage, speaking about the invention that earned him the $75,000 grand prize at the recent Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

8:34 PM CDT, May 22, 2012

Dyer files suit against fellow board members, claiming open meetings violation

Howard County school board member Allen Dyer had four of his fellow board members served with a legal complaint moments before the panel recessed during Tuesday night's meeting.

9:30 PM CDT, March 20, 2012

Parents voice opposition to school redistricting

Southern Anne Arundel County residents whose children would be affected by the redistricting of three elementary schools offered emotional testimony before the county school board Tuesday night, with most arguing that the redistricting isn't necessary.

4:18 PM CDT, March 15, 2012

Japanese students visit Arundel High

Japanese cultural exchange student Minami Tajima remembers one of her first visits to an American restaurant. She and about two dozen other students from Japan visited Anne Arundel County last year, and after she befriended Arundel High School student Taylor Niemetz, the two went to a steakhouse in the Waugh Chapel area.

9:07 AM CDT, March 11, 2012

Wilde Lake Middle students raise funds for Darfur refugees

Someday, members of this year's seventh-grade class at Wilde Lake Middle School might be at the forefront of efforts to eradicate such social ills as genocide, animal cruelty, homelessness and deforestation.

5:19 PM CDT, April 24, 2012

Annapolis Area Christian School names new superintendent

The Annapolis Area Christian School announced on Tuesday that it has chosen a California school leader to replace its superintendent, who stepped down this year amid accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation.

6:04 PM CDT, April 3, 2012

Anne Arundel Community College names its next president

Anne Arundel Community College has hired Maryland native Dawn Lindsay, who now heads Glendale Community College in California and has an extensive background in local academia, as its next president.

6:31 PM CST, February 23, 2012

Gertler, Ballinger vie for school board seats again

Robert Ballinger and David Gertler both ran unsuccessfully for the Howard County school board in 2010. They are candidates again and say their unsuccessful attempts have left them optimistic about their chances this year.

10:53 PM CST, March 7, 2012

Howard school board incumbents face challenges

During the recent Howard County school board election forum, one candidate implored the audience, "Don't give the advantage of incumbency to people. Vote for the best."

10:34 AM CDT, April 4, 2012

Dyer out in Howard school board primary

Howard County school board member Allen Dyer, who has battled the panel's attempts to oust him, was eliminated in Tuesday's school board primary, as 14 candidates battled for six spots on November's ballot.

2:50 PM CDT, April 5, 2012

Homecoming for AACC's new president

Maryland native Dawn Lindsay, who has been serving as president of Glendale Community College outside Los Angeles since 2009, said she would have gladly remained at the school until she heard that the presidency at Anne Arundel Community College, a position she referred to as "her dream job," became available.

10:58 PM CDT, March 26, 2012

Howard announces finalists for school superintendent

The Howard County school board announced Monday its two finalists for superintendent, and whoever gets the job could make county history.

7:00 PM CST, March 9, 2012

Chesapeake High School athletic director reinstated

Chesapeake High School athletic director Chip Snyder, who was relieved of his duties pending a school board investigation regarding the Chesapeake wrestling team, has been reinstated to his position, Anne Arundel school officials said Friday.

6:30 PM CST, February 23, 2012

Anne Arundel lawmakers move forward to change school board selection process

A group of Anne Arundel County lawmakers have voted to move forward with efforts to change the way the county's school board is selected.

3:03 PM CDT, March 29, 2012

Truck pull at AACC highlights transportation and logistics program

It is perhaps one of the shortest trips a UPS delivery truck has ever made. The brown, boxy, 14,000-pound vehicle traveled 90 feet in about 23 seconds in Anne Arundel Community College's parking lot as five AACC students hauled it by rope in the Inaugural AACC Truck Pull competition.

9:25 PM CDT, March 27, 2012

Howard, Baltimore county schools were vying for same superintendent finalists

As the clock ticked toward midnight Monday, school boards in Howard and Baltimore County were scrambling to make job offers to their next superintendents.

7:12 PM CDT, March 16, 2012

Medical students find out residencies at Match Day

Twins William and Raphael "Rafi" Karkowsky have always shared life's best moments.

12:01 AM CDT, March 13, 2012

Center Middle Student honored for fundraising efforts

Anne Arundel County eighth-grader Victoria Marinzel is not one for the spotlight. After Gov. Martin O'Malley surprised her at a school assembly Monday with a Compassionate Marylander Award and a Governor's Citation, he asked the Central Middle School student to say a few words, and she decided that two would do.

3:25 PM CST, February 25, 2012

Anne Arundel teacher learns to fly to help students soar

South River High School teacher Rob Rice could have taught his aeronautics class without ever leaving the ground. Instead, he's bolstering his teaching skills by soaring over the Bay Bridge in a two-seat propeller plane, learning to become a pilot.

6:58 PM CST, March 9, 2012

Arundel Co. delegation approves hybrid school board bill

The Anne Arundel County delegation to the General Assembly has voted to approve a House bill that would transform the county's school board from its current nine-member, all-appointed model to a body with five elected and four appointed members.

11:21 PM CST, February 16, 2012

Teen is one of two Elkridge residents running for school board

In running for a seat on the Howard County school board, Elkridge resident Corey Andrews says he understands concerns of students in an area of the county where some residents feel their voices often go unheard.

8:15 PM CST, February 17, 2012

Hectic scene in Arundel as council deadlocks on nominee

The day after an emotional Anne Arundel County Council meeting ended without a selection to fill the open District 1 seat, council members said they remained firm in their positions but were hoping to end the stalemate before they reconvene Tuesday.

10:31 AM CDT, April 2, 2012

Players await word of Mega Millions winners

The great mystery of Maryland's Mega Millions winner remained unsolved Monday morning.

12:01 PM CST, February 15, 2012

Anne Arundel school board adopts Maxwell's budget request

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's operating budget that would add more than 60 teaching positions and fully fund negotiated agreements with employee unions.

4:23 PM CST, March 1, 2012

Ellicott City virtually synonymous with school board membership

Owen Hanratty's restaurant, Cacao Lane, is perched along Ellicott City's historic district, a narrow swath of eclectic shops and eateries where 19th-century Main Street meets modern chic. The area is the center of a Howard County community that, along with Columbia, earned a No. 2 ranking on Money magazine's 2010 Best Places to Live list.

5:26 PM CST, February 23, 2012

Some schools implement minimum grading policy

The Anne Arundel County teachers union is criticizing the school system's decision to allow some schools to set their own minimum benchmarks for grades, saying that the practice may undermine countywide standards of excellence.

4:38 PM CST, February 16, 2012

Anne Arundel delegate seeks to alter school board makeup

Del. Tony McConkey, a Severna Park Republican, is sponsoring four bills in the General Assembly that would give Anne Arundel County residents the right to choose at least some members of the school board.

6:06 PM CST, February 2, 2012

Some school superintendent candidates have asked about board controversy

Some prospective candidates for the Howard County superintendent's job have asked about the school board's efforts to have a member removed, according to the head of the firm helping with the search.

3:21 PM CST, March 8, 2012

North County student claims national art honor

North County High School senior Ashely Lim didn't intend to turn the school's hallways into her own virtual art exhibition. But there on a wall in the school's physical education area is a testament to her creativity, a colorfully painted sports mural she calls "Gym" that features athletic wear, sporting equipment and a foaming splash of waves that helps give the work its energy and radiance.

7:57 PM CST, February 9, 2012

Chesapeake High wrestling coach says he hasn't been told specifically why he was removed from job

Former Chesapeake High School wrestling coach Paul Tolle says the Anne Arundel County school system has not given him a full explanation for his removal from his post last month.

5:01 PM CST, February 9, 2012

Howard County Red Cross chapter resells prom dresses

One lucky girl looking for a prom dress could end up with a pageant gown worn by a reigning Miss Maryland, who has donated her pink, fluffy, beaded dress to Project Prom Dress.

11:09 AM CST, March 2, 2012

AACC plans steep tuition increase

Anne Arundel Community College trustees have approved a $110.6 million operating budget proposal for the next fiscal year that includes a tuition and fee increase of $16 per credit hour, the largest such increase in school history.

7:32 PM CDT, March 23, 2012

Howard County offers safe driving programs for teens

Here's something for Maryland drivers younger than 18 to consider: Did you know that because your parents sign a consent form allowing you to obtain a license, they can also have your license revoked by withdrawing that consent?

2:45 PM CST, February 2, 2012

Edgewater Elementary parents still concerned about building's air quality

On an evening when the weather was unseasonably warm, the Edgewater Elementary School cafeteria was uncomfortably stuffy. Doors were opened to allow cooler air inside, providing some relief for dozens of parents, students and staff who assembled last week to hear a preliminary report on air quality at the school.

2:56 PM CST, February 9, 2012

Mount Hebron teacher nominated for NAACP Image Award

Children's book author Jerdine Nolen remembers the first time she saw her name in print. As a second-grader, she wrote a Thanksgiving poem that was published in the school newspaper, and she kept her eyes glued to the pink publication while walking home.

5:42 PM CST, January 28, 2012

Air quality firm to meet with Edgewater Elementary School community

A consulting firm hired by Anne Arundel County schools to test air quality at Edgewater Elementary School will meet with the school community on Tuesday.

5:13 PM CST, January 12, 2012

Residents voice support for Maxwell's proposed schools budget

Anne Arundel County residents attending hearings this week lauded school Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's recommended $986.2 million operating budget and encouraged the school board to adopt it and the County Council to help fund it.

4:38 PM CST, January 26, 2012

Touchstones discussion method fostered at Jessup correctional facility

The class engaged in a discussion about power, focusing on an excerpt from Plato's "Republic." They later discussed laws and rules after reading works by St. Thomas Aquinas and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about when it's right to break an unjust law.

4:05 PM CDT, March 15, 2012

Scott, Neil among school board candidates making first runs at public office

For someone who has never run for public office, Jackie Scott apparently knows how to make an impression on the local electorate.

10:29 PM CST, January 31, 2012

Firm outlines air-quality problems, solutions at Edgewater Elementary

An examination has found that mold growth and dampness in a crawl space has affected areas of Edgewater Elementary, parents and staff were was told Tuesday night at the school. However, the president of the independent firm that conducted the evaluation said those problems — which have prompted health concerns — can be addressed.

3:56 PM CST, December 31, 2011

JHU professors propose new calendar

When Johns Hopkins professors Steve H. Hanke and Richard Conn Henry observe a calendar, they see a year's worth of flaws. The two are proposing that the current 12-month, 365-day model be overhauled to ensure that dates fall on the same days of the week year after year.

5:07 PM CST, January 5, 2012

Maxwell seeks public support for schools budget

Anne Arundel County school officials are seeking public support for Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's proposed budget, which the county government has signaled will not be fully funded, during hearings and workshops next week.

12:50 AM CST, January 19, 2012

More than 50 attend meeting to request reinstatement of Arundel AD, wrestling coach

More than 50 people attended Wednesday's Anne Arundel County school board meeting in apparent solidarity to request the reinstatement of Chesapeake High School Athletic Director Chip Snyder and wrestling coach Paul Tolle.

4:47 PM CST, January 12, 2012

Atholton student designs apps for Apple store

Atholton High School student Eric Lu whipped out his cellphone and displayed information about the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that occurred off the west coast of Sumatra on Tuesday. The information came courtesy of mobile application software called Quakes — Earthquake Notifications, and Lu vouches for its accuracy.

7:19 PM CST, December 2, 2011

Man accused of reneging on Ravens appearances on Queen Anne's most-wanted list

An Annapolis man accused of charging dozens of schools across the state to deliver Ravens players for assemblies then reneging without refunding the money has been placed on the most-wanted list in Queen Anne's County, where he has been charged with three counts of theft, police said.

6:17 PM CST, January 23, 2012

Annapolis Area Christian School superintendent steps down

Annapolis Area Christian School officials said Monday that they are looking for a new superintendent after George J.W. Lawrence Jr. stepped down amid a lawsuit brought by three former employees accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation.

1:30 PM CST, February 1, 2012

State Board of Education seeks public response to Arundel funding dispute

The state Board of Education is fielding public comment on its contention that the Anne Arundel County government did not meet a state-mandated education funding requirement, it announced Wednesday.

10:37 AM CST, January 20, 2012

Artist teaches culture through world music at Howard schools

Tim Gregory is fond of telling schoolchildren that his music career began while playing his mother's pots and pans with pencils as a kid. It's a testament to his credo that "everything is a potential instrument."

9:14 PM CST, November 9, 2011

Ellicott Mills middle teacher welcomed home from tour in Afghanistan

Maj. Dan Wood was showered with thunderous applause as he rounded every corner of Ellicott Mills Middle School.

7:12 PM CST, November 25, 2011

Local schools see benefits from good behavior program

At Stevens Forest Elementary School in Columbia, fifth-graders delight when good behavior leads to rewards, from earning shiny trophies to playing Nintendo Wii with the principal at recess. In fact, they say they've had so much fun being respectful, responsible and ready to learn that nowadays they often do so without anticipating perks.

February 2, 2012

HCC study-abroad program will tour Normandy

Howard Community College professor Fred Campbell is about to take his third group of students to the site of the Allied invasion of Europe during World War II, with the hope that, like students before them, the group with return with a perspective of Normandy they rarely get in American history classes.

1:15 PM CST, January 19, 2012

Crofton Meadows hopes to continue Blue Ribbon success

Principal Derek Burns traveled to Baltimore last week to accept Crofton Meadows Elementary's Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award and made it back in time to direct traffic out of the school's parking lot. The first-year principal scarcely paused long enough to gauge responses from students, parents and staff, whose efforts made it Anne Arundel County's 15th state Blue Ribbon school.

9:40 PM CST, January 10, 2012

Arundel schools budget encounters support

Anne Arundel County residents lauded Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's recommended $986.2 million operating budget at a public hearing Tuesday night, encouraging the school board to adopt it and the county council to help fund it.

December 23, 2011

Severna Park High gets the joke with improv troupe

The joke began simple enough: "One hundred eighty-five gorillas walk into a bar. The bartender says, 'Sorry, we don't serve your kind here.'"

4:15 PM CST, January 12, 2012

Online economics program offered to Howard eighth-graders

Lime Kiln eighth-grader Clare Napoli set out to be a big spender, envisioning herself with an expensive house and a sporty Ford Mustang. Then the Junior Achievement online economics education program, called JA Finance Park, gave her a virtual identity, and Napoli discovered that she was a parent of two children.

5:37 PM CST, December 4, 2011

En garde! Fencing competition draws 340 participants

Lisa Dobloug, 72, is proof that fencing competitors are not all youngsters. The Washington resident competed Sunday in the 24th annual Charm City Classic, a two-day event at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, for fencers 13 and over.

10:20 PM CDT, October 11, 2011

Howard school board chair says changing its makeup will hamper superintendent search

Howard County school board chair Janet Siddiqui told the county delegation Tuesday night that a proposed bill to change the makeup of the board would jeopardize the search for a superintendent and hamper the progress of the state's only school system to make academic yearly progress this year.

4:13 PM CST, November 10, 2011

Anne Arundel principal honored for service

One day recently, Hilltop Elementary School Principal Louise DeJesu noticed that a student's shoes were coming apart. She summoned her secretary to measure the child's feet, then provided the money for a new pair.

1:22 PM CST, December 29, 2011

Howard library club explores English

Pu Yang learned some English while growing up in China, but when he moved to Ellicott City, he discovered that he didn't know enough about the language to speak it.

3:10 PM CST, December 29, 2011

Chesapeake Science Point readying for 11th-grade expansion

In its budget proposal for the next fiscal year, the Anne Arundel County school system has recommended allotting $3.5 million to fund the expansion of its two charter schools.

5:35 PM CST, January 5, 2012

De Lacy, Kornreich to vie for school board seats

Former Howard County teachers union President Ann De Lacy and Leslie Kornreich, who ran unsuccessfully in the last election, have filed to run for the Howard County school board, joining incumbents Janet Siddiqui and Ellen Flynn Giles.

3:15 PM CST, December 10, 2011

Reservoir High students reach out to help families

For all they know, Reservoir High School juniors Avery Strott and Colleen Paraska might be taking classes with members of the family that they're helping with necessities like food and clothes for the holidays and beyond. The family's single mother, with whom they've spoken over the phone, could be someone they've passed time and again, at food courts, in a doctor's office, at school events.

8:55 PM CDT, October 28, 2011

Firm charges schools to deliver Ravens but fails

Leon Gaters was among a handful of students at Colgate Elementary who knew the school's PTA had paid for a Ravens player to speak as a surprise guest at an October assembly. When he discovered days before the assembly that no player would show up, the fifth-grader said he was "bummed out."

11:03 PM CST, November 30, 2011

BioMedical Allied magnet program prepares students for health care professions

As a ninth-grader, Michelle Blair of Crofton has plenty of time to figure out what career to pursue. Yet, while taking classes in Anne Arundel County's BioMedical Allied Health magnet program at Glen Burnie High School, she's already considering a possible career in medicine.

2:24 PM CST, November 17, 2011

Howard school board sets superintendent search timeline

The Howard County school board established a timeline and procedures for its superintendent's search on Wednesday night, setting a deadline for applications in late February and interviews of finalists in March.

10:18 PM CST, December 14, 2011

HCC offers students chance to pitch business ideas

John Palasits envisions an electronic menu that would enable restaurant customers to place their orders when ready instead of summoning a waiter.

2:37 PM CST, November 17, 2011

Howard officials propose changes in middle school schedule

The Howard County school system is considering major changes to its middle school class schedule that include discontinuing reading as a stand-alone subject for most students, school officials said.

1:18 PM CST, December 16, 2011

Chesapeake High senior cooks on student-run TV program

Chesapeake High School senior Tylr Scones says he developed an interest in cooking while growing up watching his father, who he said would "go into the kitchen, look at the cabinets and all of a sudden he'd walk out with a gourmet meal."

4:46 PM CDT, October 20, 2011

Ellicott City actress stars in national touring show for kids

As a New York-based actress, Sarah Beth Pfeifer begins her mornings surfing the Internet to decide which auditions to attend. Recently, one caught her eye: a bus tour production about a girl who overcomes peer pressure and bullying to realize her dreams.

3:23 PM CDT, October 13, 2011

Arts integration specialist bolsters initiative at Anne Arundel schools

In the hopes of eventually applying its arts initiative throughout the school system, Anne Arundel County has hired what officials say is one of the first arts integration specialists in the state.

10:18 PM CST, November 15, 2011

Arundel school administrators, families discuss arts magnet program

The Anne Arundel County School System on Tuesday night fielded questions from parents and students about the county's upcoming Performance Visual Arts magnet program for high schools, a first-time endeavor that will offer students a chance to work with arts professionals while extending their school day four times a week.

6:17 PM CST, November 16, 2011

Arundel school administrators, families discuss arts magnet program

As Anne Arundel school officials outlined the system's planned Performing Visual Arts program for high schools, they stressed to parents the kind of students they're looking to enroll: those with an unbridled energy and passion for their art.

10:24 PM CDT, October 16, 2011

Dr. Paul Chang, oncologist

Dr. Paul Chang, a Towson oncologist known for forging close bonds with his patients, died Wednesday at Good Samaritan Hospital of complications from cancer. He was 65.

4:15 PM CDT, October 27, 2011

Judge rules case against Howard school board member can go forward

An administrative law judge has denied Allen Dyer's request to block his removal from the Howard County school board, setting in motion proceedings that would have Dyer defending his seat next year as he runs for re-election.

8:25 PM CST, January 5, 2012

Howard school superintendent unveils proposed budget

Howard County schools Superintendent Sydney Cousin unveiled Thursday night a $697 million budget for fiscal year 2013 that is about 2 percent greater than last year's budget and adds 69 new positions to address enrollment growth.

6:09 PM CDT, November 3, 2011

Glenelg student organizes Howard County soccer 'World Cup'

Glenelg Country School junior Tala Ahmadi visited Spain with family last year while that county's national soccer team played in the FIFA World Cup championship — and to the surprise of many locals, she could hold a conversation about the team with its most ardent fans.

4:26 PM CDT, October 27, 2011

AACC students run makeshift restaurants

Anne Arundel Community College culinary arts student Lynn Brown said that while growing up in Washington, he would watch his mother prepare dishes that she ultimately taught him to cook.

3:58 PM CDT, October 23, 2011

Four-year schools courting community college graduates

When Luke Fisher of Westminster graduated from high school five years ago, he had doubts that he could excel at a four-year school. He turned down an offer to attend Towson University and opted instead for Carroll Community College.

12:35 PM CDT, November 3, 2011

Georgetown East Elementary receives new instruments

Taymeko Matthews' eyes lit up when she saw the collection of music instruments on the Georgetown East Elementary School stage. Someone placed a violin in the fourth-grader's hands, and it was as if holiday season had descended earlier than usual.

2:46 PM CDT, October 29, 2011

Man shot on Saint Victor Street in Baltimore Friday night

A 19-year-old Baltimore man was shot in the 3700 block of Saint Victor Street just before midnight Friday, police said.

8:21 PM CDT, October 12, 2011

Howard Co. lawmaker drops hybrid school board plan

A state lawmaker from Howard County killed a proposal to restructure the local school board Wednesday, amid strong opposition from residents, parent-teacher groups and sitting members of the education panel.

3:30 PM CST, December 1, 2011

Howard School system nonprofit to donate computers to students

Pat Sasse says that scores of families in Howard County lack computers in the home, leaving parents to follow up a long day of work with an evening spent at libraries, hoping their children have enough time to do homework on public computers that are in high demand.

3:22 PM CST, November 23, 2011

U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan visits Wilde Lake High School

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who says he has seen a broad spectrum of the nation's schools, from successful to struggling, left Wilde Lake High School this week singing not only its praises but those of the Howard County school system.

4:38 PM CDT, October 27, 2011

Howard program helps students serve community

The group of Howard County teenagers used Facebook and Twitter to get the word out: They were recruiting youth singers, performers and improvisational acts to perform at a fundraising concert at a senior center.

4:46 PM CDT, October 13, 2011

Howard residents still seek to address concerns about school board

Even as the Howard County School Board Study Commission decided to recommend a change in selecting the board's members, panel member Paul Lemle argued that more time was needed to explore options and gauge community responses.

9:27 PM CDT, October 18, 2011

Arundel panel votes to send some Central pupils elsewhere

An Anne Arundel County Schools committee voted Tuesday night to move pupils from several communities in Riva to Mayo and Davidsonville elementary schools to ease crowding at Edgewater's Central Elementary School.

10:49 PM CDT, October 3, 2011

White Marsh fuel-company owner faces fraud charges

The U.S. attorney's office has charged the owner of a White Marsh fuel company with money laundering and wire fraud, accusing him of attempting to sell more than $9 million in renewable fuel credits that he did not produce.

4:46 PM CDT, October 6, 2011

Anne Arundel school board approves new citizen advisory panel

The Anne Arundel County school board has approved a revamped countywide Citizen Advisory Committee, appointing a 29-member executive panel that it says will strengthen the panel's ability to advise the board on education-related matters.

6:24 PM CDT, October 6, 2011

Howard school board voices opposition to hybrid model

Howard County school board members have agreed that they need to voice stronger opposition to a bill that would retool the seven-member, at-large, elected body to one with five members elected by district and two appointees.

3:22 PM CDT, September 29, 2011

Ulman says school board strife factored in decision to change its structure

On Tuesday morning in Hunt Valley, Howard County school board member Allen Dyer asked an administrative law judge to dismiss his fellow board members' request to have him removed.

6:03 PM CDT, September 27, 2011

Howard drafting bill to alter school board

Howard County officials outlined a bill Tuesday proposing a hybrid county school board with five district-elected seats and two appointed members that the county executive would choose with County Council approval.

9:07 PM CDT, November 3, 2011

Baltimore students lead rally for better school facilities

Baltimore Freedom Academy students marched along East Fayette Street and in front of City Hall late Thursday afternoon, chanting "Save our schools!" and hoisting placards with such messages as "No Justice, No Peace, No Air, No Heat."

5:25 PM CDT, September 29, 2011

Redistricting considered for three Anne Arundel elementary schools

Anne Arundel parents, teachers and administrators filled Central Elementary School's gym this week to hear county schools specialist Chuck Yocum speak about the system's plans to redistrict Central, Davidsonville and Mayo elementary schools. After a lengthy and engaging question-and-answer session, Yocum said he was surprised to see that parents didn't respond with raised eyebrows and voices.

2:46 PM CDT, September 25, 2011

Police arrest department store robbery suspect

Anne Arundel County Police arrested a man who they said walked out of a department store in Laurel with about $800 in merchandise on Saturday, then brandished a knife upon being asked to return to the store with the items.

9:40 AM CDT, September 26, 2011

Police identify pedestrian fatally struck in Glen Burnie

Anne Arundel County Police have identified a pedestrian who was struck and killed early Sunday morning while trying to cross a road in Glen Burnie.

8:01 PM CDT, September 22, 2011

Arundel school board OKs construction studies

The Anne Arundel Board of Education approved feasibility studies for six elementary schools Wednesday, prompting elation from teachers, parents and students eager to see their facilities get what they believe are much-needed makeovers.

9:09 PM CDT, October 29, 2011

Wet snow falls on Maryland, Northeast

Ethan Yankellow pondered the last time he saw snow in the Baltimore area at this time of year — and drew a blank.

7:27 PM CDT, October 3, 2011

Natural-gas odors prompt brief subway shutdown

The Maryland Transit Administration's underground Metro stations were shut down for about an hour and a half Monday as city fire department units performed air-quality tests in response to reports of natural-gas odors, fire officials said.

1:19 PM CDT, September 25, 2011

Pedestrian struck, killed in Glen Burnie

Anne Arundel County Police said a pedestrian was struck and killed early Sunday morning while trying to cross a road in Glen Burnie.

7:54 PM CDT, October 7, 2011

Maryland law professor was adviser to Nobel laureate

When University of Maryland law professor Larry Gibson was asked to become involved with the Liberian presidential campaign of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, he initially declined. But she ultimately won him over, and his efforts helped her become Africa's first elected female head of state in 2005.

11:38 AM CDT, September 25, 2011

Two men killed in Sunday-morning shooting

Two men were shot and killed early Sunday morning in the 3900 block of Dolfield Avenue, Baltimore police said.

9:03 PM CDT, September 15, 2011

Arundel Middle keeping students, faculty active with Fit Club

When Arundel Middle School launched its Fit Club last year, nearly three dozen students signed up to take part in a gym activity that included cardio exercises, weight training and workouts with the P90X fitness program.

12:59 PM CDT, September 5, 2011

All Irene-related power outages are restored, BGE says

Baltimore Gas and Electric says it has restored service to all customers who lost power due to Hurricane Irene, except for a few individual outages.

9:05 PM CDT, September 25, 2011

Two killed, three hurt in Baltimore Co. ATV crash

Two Baltimore County men were killed and three other people injured Sunday in an early-morning crash of an all-terrain vehicle in White Hall, Baltimore County police said.

5:59 PM CDT, September 27, 2011

Dyer asks for dismissal of case

Howard County Board of Education member Allen Dyer requested Tuesday that the state dismiss his fellow members' resolution to oust him.

9:07 PM CDT, September 25, 2011

Families, Sinai staffers come together to race for children

Baltimore resident Sean Harris has grown accustomed to seeing doctors and staff at the Children's Hospital at Sinai; they've provided care for his 3-year-old son, Sean Jr., who in March was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

5:53 PM CDT, September 25, 2011

Police arrest two in hit-and-run, attempted carjacking

Anne Arundel police said they have arrested two males, one of them a juvenile, in connection with a hit-and-run accident, a robbery and an attempted carjacking near Route 100 in Hanover on Saturday afternoon.

4:48 PM CDT, August 25, 2011

Norbel community starts new school called Compass Academy

Shortly after Norbel School in Elkridge closed in June, citing financial difficulties, many of the school's teachers, faculty and parents banded together to come up with a new school that, like Norbel, would serve children with learning disabilities.

7:53 PM CDT, August 30, 2011

School starts a day late in Howard County

Bryant Woods Elementary School third-grader Ramal West, who recently moved to Columbia from Frederick, wasn't about to let Hurricane Irene dampen his spirits on the first day of school.

5:27 PM CDT, August 18, 2011

Anne Arundel Council rejects school board's request to reshuffle funds for teacher salaries

As Anne Arundel school board members discussed efforts to address the achievement gap in the system on Wednesday, they called upon county citizens to not only get involved but to understand that the arduous task needs to be properly funded.

5:25 PM CDT, September 4, 2011

Ministry offers spiritual services to IndyCar Circuit

IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves said before Sunday's Baltimore Grand Prix that as a religious man he prays for everyone's safety. And if, God willing, there's an opportunity to quickly get by a competitor in the race, he prays for that as well.

10:51 PM CDT, September 1, 2011

Howard school board resumes search for new superintendent

Now that the Howard County public school system is up and running after delaying its first day in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, school board members are turning their focus back to the search for a replacement for Superintendent Sydney L. Cousin, who will retire next year.

6:43 PM CDT, September 15, 2011

Howard school board opposes switch on its selection process

The Howard County school system, widely regarded as among the best in the nation, could be in for two major, and perhaps unprecedented, changes regarding its elected board of education.

9:22 PM CDT, July 18, 2011

Howard County school board torn by dissent

Howard County's school board had ended its public hearing on a new elementary in Elkridge and moved onto discussing the matter — a seemingly routine meeting for the group that governs one of the nation's best school systems.

12:22 PM CDT, July 2, 2011

Norbel parents, staff attempt to launch new school

Norbel School in Elkridge will officially close its doors for good Friday, but a group that includes former Norbel staff and parents are working to launch a similar school for students with learning differences, one that they hope will open in time for the new school year.

11:19 PM CDT, June 16, 2011

Anne Arundel Board of Education adopts operating, capital budgets

In a lengthy and often emotional meeting, the Anne Arundel County Board of Education approved last week the fiscal year 2012 operating and capital budgets, realigned funds for additional classroom teachers, heard nearly two hours of public testimony and said goodbye to two of its members.

7:55 PM CDT, September 2, 2011

All area schools expected to open Tuesday after outages

Officials in the Baltimore area expect all schools to be open for students Tuesday, although Baltimore County will make its announcement on school openings Monday afternoon after officials make sure the power is restored.

4:19 PM CDT, July 7, 2011

Kids have fun and learn, too, at HCC summer camp

The sign inside Howard Community College's Hickory Ridge Building pointed to a summer camp class called "Oooo, Goo and Stinky Too: Gross Science." Inside the classroom, elementary school kids discovered how inventive they could be with household products, mixing corn starch, cocoa and red dye to make fake blood and fueling toy rockets with Alka Seltzer.

6:33 PM CDT, September 1, 2011

St. John's brings back student boxing club, dormant for decades

St. John's College senior Lydia Marie Hovey has a busy class schedule and participates in lots of school activities, but she still finds time to work on her hooks and power punches.

10:34 PM CDT, September 21, 2011

Acupuncture at Howard Community College draws crowds

It began at Howard Community College four years ago as a smoking cessation program, but apparently few students were willing to kick the habit via auricular acupuncture — a form of alternative medicine that involves insertion of fine needles into the ear.

3:02 PM CDT, July 26, 2011

Howard teachers union ratifies tentative agreement

The Howard County teachers union has ratified a tentative agreement with the county Board of Education, officials from both sides said Tuesday.

7:58 PM CDT, August 23, 2011

School year begins in Anne Arundel

As schools opened Tuesday in Anne Arundel County with a record 76,600 students, Bates Middle School sixth-grader Londell Owens said he's looking forward to learning much in his classes "and having fun doing it."

4:19 PM CDT, August 21, 2011

Weather brings tornado warning, downed trees, lane closures

Baltimore County was under a tornado warning for about 30 minutes Sunday afternoon, and the Eastern Shore is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m., the National Weather Service said on Sunday.

4:07 PM CDT, July 28, 2011

Cartoonist inspires kids to take artistic look at current events

Local cartoonist Michael Cotter asked the assembled youngsters at the Annapolis area library to name a big story in the news, and 13-year-old Rhaei Brown, who was sporting a Ravens jersey, couldn't utter his answer fast enough.

10:53 PM CDT, September 12, 2011

Howard residents debate school-board change

Howard County citizens debated Monday night whether and how to change the makeup of the school board to allow for more racial and geographic representation.

5:33 PM CDT, August 11, 2011

Sixth-graders excel at test normally administered to high school students

Jeremy Dy was among a small group of Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School students who took the PSAT/NMSQT, a national standardized test considered a precursor to college entrance exams, during the past school year. He and his peers excelled at the test, which is good, because they might be retaking it a few times.

5:22 PM CDT, August 21, 2011

'Iron Girls' finish strong in Howard

Nya Ferrell found finishing yesterday's Athleta Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon an uphill battle – literally.

6:27 PM CDT, July 14, 2011

NAACP, Maxwell meet to discuss discipline of African-American students

Just days after the Anne Arundel County branch of the NAACP filed a complaint alleging "disparate treatment" of African-American students and teachers, school board members said the superintendent and school system should be recognized for their continuing efforts to address the matter.

2:46 PM CDT, July 28, 2011

HCC part of Mount Airy health care center consortium

Howard Community College is part of a three-college consortium that will launch a Mount Airy-based health care training center to propel students into those high-demand careers, HCC officials said.

10:15 PM CDT, September 19, 2011

Howard panel supports revamping school board

A commission created to study the Howard County school board's diversity voted Monday to recommend scrapping the current format of seven at-large elected members in favor of five members elected by County Council district plus two appointed members.

8:51 PM CDT, July 14, 2011

Students spend break at Summer Initiatives

Students at Howard County's Summer Initiatives for Talent Development program think kids shouldn't spend their summers watching television or hanging out with friends when they can extract DNA from fruits and vegetables or debate whether schoolchildren should get paid for good grades.

June 25, 2011

Howard school board begins superintendent search

During the early portion of this week's Howard County Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Sydney Cousin was showered with awards and accolades for his years of service to the school system.

5:26 PM CDT, August 4, 2011

Lemle assumes role of HCEA president

When Paul Lemle ran for president of the Howard County Education Association, he gave himself a scant shot at winning. Instead, he figured he would introduce himself to the community for future elections while publicly encouraging other candidates to be involved in the county's schools and to understand the community's concerns.

9:47 PM CDT, June 14, 2011

Anne Arundel teacher retires after 44 years

Linda Flaherty has been teaching at Mayo Elementary School in Edgewater for so long that she says her first students are now approaching their mid-50s. She was hired out of college in 1967, when Lyndon B. Johnson was president and the first Super Bowl was held.

10:47 AM CDT, September 9, 2011

Arundel community college student wins design contest

Anne Arundel Community College student Susan Wasilewski crafted a design for a chair that a New York furniture company turned into a finished product. Someday, Wasilewski hopes to design more pieces for an entire set of furniture that might show up in showrooms worldwide.

4:00 PM CDT, August 27, 2011

Baltimore city takes in hazardous waste on drop-off day

Gail Pickering of Baltimore put some gasoline aside last winter when her snow plow broke down. Months later she tried giving it away but found out it was too old to use.

8:14 PM CDT, June 21, 2011

Howard Co. school board approves new site for elementary school in Elkridge

The Howard County Board of Education on Tuesday approved a new site to be considered for construction of an elementary school in Elkridge, giving an alternative to a previously proposed site that raised concerns about proximity to a MARC rail commuter line and a proposed CSX rail cargo transfer station.

3:53 PM CDT, August 25, 2011

Bates Middle School hopes to continue its academic progress

When the strongest vibrations of Tuesday's earthquake struck during the first day of school in Anne Arundel County, students at Wiley Bates Middle School in Annapolis heeded evacuation instructions blared over the public address system and filed out of the building without much commotion.

8:36 PM CDT, June 30, 2011

Anne Arundel high school seniors secure $99.6 million in college scholarship offers

Last year, North County High School in Glen Burnie received $1.7 million in college scholarship offers for graduating seniors, a figure that would draw kudos throughout much of the country but not as much in Anne Arundel County, which is fast becoming known for its students' penchant for garnering financial aid funds that would rival the Maryland Lottery.

7:23 PM CDT, September 9, 2011

Judge to decide whether to dismiss complaint against Dyer

Howard County Board of Education member Allen Dyer will find out next month whether he has thwarted his fellow members' attempt to oust him from the panel. An administration law judge said Thursday that he would hear Dyer's request to have the board's complaint against him dismissed.

8:04 PM CDT, July 7, 2011

St. John's College offers 'Life of the Mind' series

Retired economist S. Ramachandran recently spoke at St. John's College in Annapolis about money's "magical qualities," how it often creates illusions that surprise and misguide. Before that, faculty member Joseph Cohen invited his audience to consider how old the human race is and when people started thinking.

8:33 PM CDT, August 18, 2011

Howard resident going to Singapore on Fulbright grant

Kevin Doxzen Jr. applied last summer for a Fulbright scholarship to do cancer research in Singapore, and by December he was told he was a finalist. For about five months, he heard nothing, even as many of his classmates were notified of their status.

6:44 PM CDT, July 21, 2011

AACC open house targets older prospective students

Anne Arundel Community College officials say that for some prospective students, particularly adults who have spent years away from a formal classroom setting, the stresses of school begin well before enrollment.

5:22 PM CDT, June 27, 2011

Norbel School in Howard County to close

Norbel School, a private, nonprofit school in Elkridge for children with learning differences, will close July 1 because it has "insufficient enrollment and money to begin another school year," according to officials.

7:25 PM CDT, June 23, 2011

Arundel Comm. College student finalist for national award

Daniel Brannon fought back tears as he spoke of going from childhood addiction to recovery in his 40s. He recounted those along the way who never gave up on him through countless stints of rehabilitation, homelessness, imprisonment and failed attempts at sobriety.

May 19, 2010

Virginia Beach vibe is fun, sun

Forget about jogging, aerobics and exercise programs. If you really want a workout, try venturing up the old Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia Beach, Va., a 92-foot tower atop a 50-foot hill that's been overlooking the Chesapeake Bay for more than 200 years.

3:55 PM CDT, July 21, 2011

Howard County students immersed in world languages, cultures

Craig Benjamin Jr. said that before enrolling in Howard County schools' Chinese Summer Learning Camp, he knew how to say "hello" in Mandarin. In fact, many kids know "ni hao" because it's part of the name of the popular children's television series, "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan."