Arundel

After less than a year on the job, Larry Tolliver is calling it quits as chief of the troubled Anne Arundel County Police Department. Tolliver, 67, said his resignation — or "return to retirement," as he called it — will take effect May 21. "I am resigning today because the department needs a chief who can focus solely on the department's mission, something that is challenging to do in the current environment," Tolliver wrote in a statement...

It will soon be legal to own a Taser or stun gun in Anne Arundel County, following a vote by the County Council on Monday. Council members voted 4-3 to legalize the devices, which use an electric shock to disable another person. The bill was sponsored by Councilman Derek Fink, a Pasadena Republican who had argued that Tasers are a good way for people to protect themselves, especially if they don't want to own a gun. "It's going to give them another viable option to protect themselves, their families and their property," Fink said.

With the ball in his stick in overtime of Monday's Anne Arundel County boys lacrosse championship, Arundel junior midfielder Aaron Snyder kept the plan simple. The result was much more than that. Snyder scored 50 seconds into extra play to give the No. 10 Wildcats a 7-6 win over No. 8 South River at Northeast High to capture the program's second county championship - its first since 1999. South River came into the game as the defending county, region and Class 4A-3A state champions, with a 10-6 win over the Wildcats already in the books from the regular season.

A one-vehicle collision in Anne Arundel County on the Baltimore Washington Parkway South at MD 32 has closed one of two southbound traffic lanes and one of two southbound shoulders at 7:53 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation. The Baltimore City Department of Transportation said that new traffic patterns will be implemented along a portion of Charles Street on Monday as the city undergoes the Phase I Detour of its Charles Street Reconstruction Project. The transportation authority said that northbound Charles Street from 28th Street to University Parkway will be open only for local traffic and emergency vehicles.

Spring show The Muddy Creek Artists Guild's fifth annual spring show, "Artists on the Half Shell," concludes, Sunday, May 5, at Galesville Memorial Hall, 925 Main St. Works by members include more than 250 paintings, pastels, photographs, prints, sculpture, pottery, textiles, jewelry and mixed media. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission. Information: muddycreekartistsguild.org. 'Evolution' Collage and paintings by C.L. Bigelow will be on view through June 25 at Gallery 333, 333 Dubois Road in Annapolis.

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman said she's taken steps toward running in 2014 for a full term. While the Republican hasn't declared her candidacy officially, Neuman said in an interview Thursday she's filed the paperwork to form a campaign committee. The only office she's considering is county executive. "I've had a tremendous amount of support from the community," she said. "I wanted to at least explore the idea. " The County Council selected Neuman as county executive on Feb. 21 after the resignation of John R. Leopold, who was found guilty of misconduct in office.

Anne Arundel County, including Annapolis, led the state in tourism dollars in 2011, according to a report by the travel research company Tourism Economics, the local visitors bureau said this week. The Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau said that according to the report, nearly 5.6 million visitors to Annapolis and the county spent nearly $3.2 billion, a 7.2 percent increase over the $3 billion generated in 2010. The sum represents transportation, food, hotel and other spending.

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman is asking law enforcement professionals from other jurisdictions to examine the county's troubled police department. Since she took over in February from disgraced former executive John R. Leopold, Neuman said Friday, her office has received a steady stream of anonymous notes alleging problems in the agency. Leopold was convicted of criminal misconduct in office for directing his police protection detail to perform political and personal tasks.

Two roadway incidents in Baltimore-area suburbs forced lane closures during Thursday morning's commute, according to the state Department of Transportation. A two-vehicle collision in Baltimore County on Interstate 95 at the Baltimore Beltway exit has closed two of four traffic lanes and one of two traffic shoulders at 8:09 a.m., on Thursday, according to DOT. In Anne Arundel County, a disabled vehicle in the roadway on US 50 East at the Baydale Drive exit has closed one of three eastbound traffic lanes and one of two eastbound traffic shoulders at 8:18 a.m., DOT said.