Animal abuse task force to meet
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Baltimore's new Anti-Animal Abuse Task Force will hold its first public meeting tonight. Residents are invited to share their concerns about animal abuse. The meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Polytechnic Institute's auditorium, 1400 Cold Spring Lane. Mayor Sheila Dixon announced the creation of the task force in July after a spate of highly publicized cases of animal cruelty, including that of Phoenix, a puppy doused with gasoline and set afire. The group, which includes representatives from city offices, the police, the state's attorney's office, animal welfare organizations and city residents, is charged with assessing the effectiveness of Baltimore's cruelty laws and brainstorming ways to raise awareness of animal abuse. It will also consider ways city agencies and animal advocates can better coordinate their efforts. The task force will issue recommendations to the mayor.
- Jill Rosen
Howard school chiefs should take pay cut, delegate says
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Howard County's top school officials ought to take a pay cut to help avoid facing the General Assembly's wrath when members convene in January to confront a looming fiscal 2011 shortfall, Democratic Del. Shane Pendergrass warned county school officials Tuesday. "Our employees, including legislature members, are giving back eight days' pay," Pendergrass told school officials during an annual legislative breakfast in Ellicott City. School employees got a 1 percent pay raise this fiscal year, and teachers want their more lucrative longevity step increases back for fiscal 2011, school Superintendent Sidney L. Cousin replied. Cousin's pay was frozen for this year. "Send a message from the top that 'we are really trying to do our part,' " Pendergrass warned. "I want them to think about what message they want to send." School board Chairman Frank Aquino said later that "everything is open for discussion."
-Larry Carson
SHA reopens I-70 lane closed after drag race
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The State Highway Administration said it will reopen one of the two lanes of Interstate 70 east of the Beltway that were closed last month. The lane closures were to discourage drag racing after two spectators died and two others were critically injured watching an illegal race June 21. Afternoon backups on the half-mile-long single lane that remained open led to the decision to reopen a second lane west of the Ingleside Avenue on-ramp to Interstate 695, SHA officials said. Westbound traffic will continue to be restricted to a single lane east of the Ingleside Avenue ramp. The change was to take effect late today after traffic barriers are shifted.
- Frank D. Roylance
