In Baltimore City
Real estate appraiser convicted in flipping wins hearing delay
Convicted real estate appraiser G. Samson Ugorji won another delay yesterday in the state's prolonged effort to revoke his license after the Maryland Real Estate Appraiser Commission could not muster a quorum for a hearing.
Ugorji, convicted last month in federal court for his part in a real estate flipping scheme, was scheduled to argue his appeal of the commission's vote in July to revoke his license. He asked for a postponement until after his Jan. 23 sentencing. Commissioners seemed prepared to turn him down. But he got an automatic delay until the next meeting, Jan. 9, when only four of nine commissioners showed up.
To get a longer delay, Ugorji had to turn in his appraisers' license. If he wins his appeal, he will get it back. The appeal hearing is scheduled for Feb. 13, three years and three days after the commission staff opened the case against him.
Police identify victims in two city homicides
Police identified yesterday two men who were fatally shot in separate incidents this month. No arrests have been made in either case and motives are unknown.
Keith Hamlet, 22, of the 3500 block of Chesterfield Ave. in Northeast Baltimore was shot about 9 p.m. Saturday in a house in the 2000 block of E. North Ave. and died the next day at Johns Hopkins Hospital, said Detective Paul Kidd.
Jason Lamont Tisdale, 23, of the 600 block of Jasper St. in West Baltimore, was found shot to death Nov. 8 on a second-floor balcony at the North Avenue Motel in the 100 block of W. North Ave., said Detective Vincent Stevenson. Anyone with information about the slayings is asked to call police at 410-396-2100.
Restoration of basilica is topic of free forum today
Restoration of the Basilica of the Assumption in downtown Baltimore, the first Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States, will be the subject of a free forum at noon today at the Johns Hopkins University's Downtown Center, Charles and Saratoga streets.
Architects John Waite of John G. Waite and Associates in Albany, N.Y., and Douglas McKean of Beyer Blinder Belle of New York - the companies hired to plan a comprehensive restoration of the basilica - will present a report on its condition and a summary of their recommendations for improvements.
The forum is sponsored by the Baltimore Architecture Foundation.
In Baltimore County
CCBC chancellor named advisory board chairman
CATONSVILLE - Irving Pressley McPhail, chancellor of the Community College of Baltimore County, is the new chairman of the Executive Advisory Board on Higher Education for the county.
Formed in 1989, the advisory board seeks to identify ways that higher education can help business and government address their employment needs. McPhail succeeds Hoke Smith, president of Towson University.
McPhail will preside over the next board meeting tomorrow at CCBC's Hunt Valley Center.
Clogged pipe leaks sewage near White Marsh Mall
WHITE MARSH - Up to 750 gallons of wastewater spilled into a wooded area near White Marsh Mall yesterday afternoon when a sewer line became clogged, Baltimore County officials said.
The spill occurred when a pipeline overflowed at the intersection of White Marsh Boulevard and Interstate 95, said Ellen Kobler, a county spokeswoman. The overflow was reported to county crews about 1 p.m. and was cleared within 90 minutes, she said.
She said the backup occurred when grease from household waste, sludge and tree roots clogged an 8-inch sewer pipe northwest of the highway interchange. No damage was reported at homes or businesses, she said.
Towson Library sponsors black history program
TOWSON - African-American life in historic Towson will be the subject of a discussion and photo display starting at 2 p.m. Saturday at Towson Library.
The program, sponsored by Friends of the Towson Library, will feature author and historian Louis S. Diggs. The vintage photographs include scenes fromTowson, Lutherville and Sandy Bottom.
Information: 410-887-6166.
