Access

Since his golf outing with Tiger Woods, President Obama has been battling with the press over access. And things only look to get more contentious this week as we move toward sequester Friday. Here's a look at a wide-ranging discussion of the issues involved that aired Sunday on CNN's "Reliable Sources" with host Howie Kurtz. The first video has me engaged with longtime CBS White House correspondent Bill Plante, and Julie Mason, host of "Press Pool" weekdays on the POTUS channel (124)

A standing-room crowd of more than 300 Rivers Edge residents told state highway officials Monday night not to limit access to U.S. 29 via Rivers Edge Road, the only way in or out of their Howard County community. The meeting at Atholton High School focused on the most recent State Highway Administration plans to widen northbound U.S. 29 from the Patuxent River to Route 175 in Columbia. The four-mile section, two lanes each way, is the site of bumper-to-bumper traffic every afternoon at rush hour.

The federal government has awarded Maryland $36.5 million for its success at getting children enrolled in government subsidized health programs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Wednesday that Maryland was among 23 states that was awarded nearly $306 million in performance bonuses for enrolling children into Medicaid and the Children's Health Program. States qualify for bonuses by showing they have simplified the process of enrolling in the programs. They must also meeet goals of enrolling children living in the lowest income levels.

Letter writer Anita L. Feith writes that it's hard to believe that in 2012 access to contraception is in the spotlight of a national debate ("Standing up for contraception," Feb. 23). One reason Ms. Feith probably finds this hard to believe is because it isn't true. There is no national debate about whether to restrict access to contraception. The debate is about whether contraception should be paid for in the form of handouts from insurance companies or the government, both of which would pass along the cost to all consumers.

I would like an opportunity to respond to a letter published in the July 13 edition of the Catonsville Times ("Neighbors dismayed to find access had been denied"), which blasted Mount de Sales Academy for purposely isolating itself from the neighborhood. As an Academy Heights resident with a strong relationship with Mount de Sales Academy, I take strong exception to the opinion regarding the entry gates being closed on July 4. The writer stated that "the school put a decisive end to the neighborhood tradition" of watching the fireworks from the grounds by locking newly erected security gates.

Within a few years, buyers could shop for a house from their home computers.The National Association of Realtors plans to update and link Multiple Listing Service systems throughout the United States. One result could be access to the system by the public.But national and local industry executives stress that access could be years away and that only a small amount of the information now on the MLS system would be available. They say buyers would still need the help and expertise of a real estate agent.

A lot of downtown businesses are literally one step away from being accessible to a person in a wheelchair -- which is as frustrating as it is encouraging to two local advocates."

WASHINGTON - The decisive issues of the 2004 presidential election battle: Iraq, the war on terror, job creation and ... broadband? Well, maybe it won't serve as a candidate litmus test for many voters, but President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry have pledged to make expanded access to high-speed Internet an important component of their economic plans. Bush offered no details on the broadband strategy. Kerry, who unveiled a corporate tax plan in the first of three speeches on economic policy, said he would soon lay out his approach to boosting broadband access.

The majority owner of the Sparrows Point shipyard has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Mittal Steel USA Inc. of denying it access to the main shipyard gate, forcing truck traffic into dangerous and time-consuming back routes. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore this week seeks actual damages of more than $75,000 plus $500,000 in punitive damages against Mittal, which owns the former Bethlehem Steel complex at Sparrows Point. A Mittal spokesman said yesterday that the company does not comment on pending litigation.

A developer who wants to build 156 condominiums in Eldersburg for retired people will be allowed direct access to and from Liberty Road.The county planning commission overrode the opposition of County Commissioner Richard T. Yates -- who sits on the planning board -- and concerns of county planners about possible problems with crossover traffic.Developer Rosario D. "Tony" Rizzo sought approval for 156 units and Route 26 access before drawing up plans for a condo development, to be called Winifred Manor.