Arundel

Maryland State Police say an officer with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of a Lansdowne man after an alleged road rage incident Saturday night in Anne Arundel County. Police say Joseph Walker, 40, of East Ampton, N.J. is being held at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center on a $1 million bond after the shooting, which took place along Interstate 97. Shortly after 8:30 p.m., troopers were called for the report of a shooting along the shoulder of the ramp from northbound Route 3 to I-97.

Anne Arundel County Police say a pedestrian was hit by a car Friday in an incident they believe might have stemmed from a traffic dispute between occupants of one vehicle and the driver of another. According to police, at about 11:45 p.m., officers responded to westbound Route 100 in Pasadena for a report of a vehicle crash and found a pedestrian had been struck. Police said a preliminary investigation indicates an Acura was heading west on Route 100 and attempted to notify police about a SUV being operated "in a reckless manner," police said.

Greg Cantori plans to downsize when he retires. Really, really downsize. His retirement home is 238 square feet - one-tenth the size of the average new American house - and sits in his Anne Arundel County yard. He and wife Renee can hitch it to a truck and take it with them wherever they go. "It's so cheap - that's what's so cool about this," said Cantori, 52, who envisions a surf-and-turf future, alternating between the house and a sailboat. "We bought the house for $19,000.

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman wants to give county parks director Rick Anthony a 37.3 percent pay raise. Andrea Fulton, the county's personnel director, told the County Council on Tuesday that boosting Anthony's salary from $88,121 to $121,000 would bring his pay in line with that of other department directors in the county. Other department directors make between $110,000 and $160,000. "It's a one-time adjustment to adjust a salary to a department head that is way below what other department heads are making," Fulton said.

Sen. Rand Paul is recruiting plaintiffs - and seeking donations - for a class-action lawsuit against the National Security Agency. “Dear Patriot,” the Kentucky Republican wrote Thursday in an e-mail to supporters. “I'm looking for ten million Americans to stand with me and sue the federal government and TAKE BACK our rights. “Can I count on your help? “Without it, I truly fear where our fragile Republic could be headed …” Paul, who is expected to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, told a Fox News interviewer this week that he would be asking Internet providers and telephone companies to join him in a lawsuit against the electronic eavesdropping agency based at Fort Meade.

The University of Maryland Medical Center will send layoff notices to employees at the end of the month as it looks to cut costs in the wake of federal budget cuts and what it and other state hospitals have called inadequate rate increases. Jeffrey Rivest, president and CEO of the Baltimore hospital, sent an email to managers Tuesday that said individual letters regarding layoffs would be given out June 25, 26 and 27. The number of people who will lose their jobs still is being finalized, said spokeswoman Mary Lynn Carver said.

Gambling started Wednesday afternoon at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort right after the state approved the opening of its fourth casino, one that Western Maryland leaders hope will lure not only gamblers but also their families to a region eager for more tourist dollars. "It's open and jamming," said Scott Just, the general manager of the resort near Cumberland. "There's a couple hundred people in there. They were pressing up against the ropes. " The $35 million casino, located in what was the lakeside golf resort's conference center, will be open around the clock.

What has Jeff Starr's wife, Kristi, racing out to Chick-fil-A on specific nights for dinner? It's the Wildcats' undefeated season. Starr is quick to point out he is superstitious, and this season, his game-day rituals are paying off. Heading into tonight's showdown against Annapolis, the No. 9 Wildcats are 13-0 this season and playing excellent team basketball. A 1995 Arundel grad, Starr spent two years on varsity as a guard and helped the 1994-95 team go 21-4 and reach the state tournament.

I am writing to comment on your recent article ("Prosecutors: Inquiry into dog park shooting may take another week," Aug. 17) because in many ways it parallels a similar incident in which I was involved on January 16, 2009. I am appalled at what happened. There are always alternatives to murdering someone's pet. Also, a police officer who is trained to deal with difficult situations should be held to a higher standard. I am concerned that the investigating police force will "whitewash" the shooter's actions.

Player of the yearAndy Vermillion, Arundel, senior, first base: Vermillion closed out his 3 1/2 years on the Wildcats varsity by becoming the sixth Wildcat since 1986 and the fourth during the '90s to be named county Player of the Year. Playing first base and center field, Vermillion drove in a state public school record 46 runs on his .442 (42-for-95) batting clip that included nine doubles, three triples, three homers and 30 runs scored. The 46 RBIs tied the overall (all schools included)

Bates Middle gets grant The College Board has awarded Wiley H. Bates Middle School in Annapolis a $5,000 Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts. Bates became the county's first fully arts-integrated school, as well as a magnet school for the visual and performing arts, five years ago. The school's specific approach is designed to involve all students in the arts. The grant money will be used toward growth and continuation of the arts program, according to Anne Arundel County Public Schools officials.

Working with Anne Arundel County schools, an independent foundation helped feed needy children and their families for more than five years. But that came to an abrupt halt a year ago, after a member of the Journey Foundation reviewing the organization's bank records saw that more than $3,700 was missing. Within months, the foundation was defunct, and one of its founders, then a teacher a Corkran Middle School in Glen Burnie, was charged with stealing from it. On Tuesday, a tearful Pamela Fowler pleaded guilty to felony theft from the foundation that was the brainchild of her and her brother, jazz musician Norman Evans, whose annual spring concerts raised thousands of dollars for Journey.

Anne Arundel County's director of public works is retiring after three decades in county government. Ron Bowen is retiring at the end of the month, County Executive Laura Neuman said on Friday. Bowen initially announced his retirement in March shortly after Neuman was appointed county executive. She replaced John R. Leopold, who resigned following his conviction of misconduct in office. Neuman convinced Bowen to change his mind. "I asked him to stay during the immediate transition," Neuman said.

A meeting of Anne Arundel County's Commission on Excellence is among the casualties of today's weather. The commission postponed its public meeting, which initially was scheduled for tonight. Instead, the commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The meeting will be held in Room 161 of the Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St. County Executive Laura Neuman created the commission to review all departments of county government. Membership includes 41 volunteers and six "team leaders.

Federal and local authorities have charged more than two dozen people this week after an investigation into drug trafficking and related crimes in Anne Arundel County and Annapolis. Federal indictments were returned Tuesday against eight people from a probe into an alleged drug ring, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Baltimore. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led law enforcement officers in serving federal search warrants at 10 locations and seven vehicles, some of them homes and vehicles of the federal defendants, the federal prosecutor's office said.

Whether they're warning constituents of impending storms or posting pictures of their kids eating ice cream, social media is a growing part of the political world, four politicians said Thursday night. "Politics is being turned on its head," said Dan Bongino, a former Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate who is now a "semi-official" candidate for Congress. Bongino - a heavy user of Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Vine and other social media - told a small "Tweetmasters" gathering in Annapolis that social media is a crucial way for politicians to make their voices heard to voters and constituents.

Aanika Dobbins, Arundel SPORT Basketball GIRLS STATS -- One of three key seniors on the No. 6 Wildcats, Dobbins, a 5-foot-8 guard, had 13 points and six rebounds in a 62-53 win over No. 13 Old Mill last week in the county championship game. It was Arundel's fourth county title in a row and the ninth in 11 years, and the second in which Dobbins played a role. SIDELINES -- Dobbins, whose parents are retired from the Army, attended Meade for two years before moving into the Arundel district.

Five people rescued after boat capsizes Coast Guard and Maryland Natural Resources Police rescued five people from the Chesapeake Bay after their boat capsized Tuesday evening. The five Virginia residents were riding in a 17-foot Bayliner when its engine stopped, said Cpl. Ken Turner with the Natural Resources Police. Though the weather was mild, choppy waves eventually swamped the boat because its bilge pump would not function, Turner said. "There wasn't really anything they could've done," he said.

Motorists should expect traffic delays Saturday in Anne Arundel County and Annapolis while two motorcycle rides for charity take place, police caution. Police officers will provide traffic control for both. The Burn Foundation ride is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and is expected to bring heavy traffic along its route that will take motorcylists from Dorsey Road to Telegraph Road, onto Route 100 east, then Interstate 97 south and finally Route 50 east to the Bay Bridge. The smaller Faces of Valor ride is scheduled to leave Forest Drive in Annapolis around 10:30 a.m. The ride will head north on Route 2, onto 50 east, then Route 450 south before continuing along King George Street and going into the Church Circle and City Dock area.