Between The Lines

Any popcorn with that?

Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy could be local producer Rodney Bethea's No. 1 promoter. She passed out more than two dozen copies of his now-infamous DVD Stop Snitching to legislators Wednesday in Annapolis.

The DVD, which features Baltimore native and rising NBA star Carmelo Anthony and drug-smoking criminals who urge the killing of crime witnesses, is a colorful and profanity-laden testimonial for witness-intimidation legislation that Jessamy and Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. are pushing to get passed this year.

So many legislators wanted their own copy that Jessamy ran out and grabbed extras on hand at the governor's office. Copies went to legislators such as Baltimore Rep. Elijah E. Cummings and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. And Jessamy, her spokeswoman said, had a special message for Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which killed a similar bill last year, as she handed him a copy: "You need to watch this."

- Julie Bykowicz

The war at home

Mayor Martin O'Malley traveled to Israel last week to learn how the Jewish state handles security issues in its ports and on city streets - mostly with surveillance cameras that are monitored 24 hours a day. Baltimore clearly has something to learn.

"One person lost his life [in Israel] while we were there," O'Malley said, referring to killings related to political violence. "Six people were murdered here at home."

- Doug Donovan

Getting maglev on track

The Greater Baltimore Committee paid $120,000 to a Washington lobbying firm last year to promote the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project.

Baltimore-Washington is competing against Pittsburgh for the high-speed train, which can travel about 300 mph using magnetic-levitation technology.

Federal lobbying records show that the GBC paid Bardill Consulting $120,000 during the first half of last year, and in October the GBC terminated its services.

Gene Bracken, the GBC's director of communications, said the group remains a strong supporter of maglev despite the decision to drop the Washington lobbyist.

Donald C. Fry, the GBC's president, maintains that maglev is vital to the region's economy. The $4.97 billion project would create 24,000 construction jobs, 180 permanent jobs and boost the convention, hospitality and tourism industries, he says.

- Mike Adams

Buy a vowel, buy a house

Timing is, some say, everything in life. Brenda Bowman, a physical therapist in Harford County, certainly is a convert to that philosophy.

A former speed skater from Minnesota, the 24-year-old appeared on the game show Wheel of Fortune on Jan. 5. She was the week's big winner, earning $62,000, a trip to the Super Bowl and other prizes. Her picture was published in her hometown newspaper, and she appeared in Sports Illustrated because it was NFL Week on the show.

Most importantly, her winnings will go toward the down payment on a new home somewhere in the Baltimore area. She is engaged to be married in August to Doug Price, a musician in Nashville.

"It just didn't seem real, once I watched the tape of the show," she said. "But the day after I won, I had undeniable confirmation - 32 e-mails. Usually, I have about two a day."

- Joe Nawrozki