Bonus

I hope everyone has taken a few moments to collect themselves after that spectacular finale. Midway through, I was a bit worried as the episode was beginning to seem more like a series finale than a season finale. However, the last 15 minutes provided everything a good finale should: suspense, murder, a love triangle (quadrangle!), a drug overdose, break-ups (bonus points for calling off an engagement), a conniving friend, heart break, a parent finding their child unconscious, unplanned pregnancy, a declaration of “never speak to me again” followed by a quick hang up, an engagement, a serious accident (plane instead of car, way to go big!

This is the season when local governments finalize their budgets for the next fiscal year, and the grousing about their penurious circumstances is in full swing. Some are even complaining that the state's revised budget and tax plan - signed into law by Gov.Martin O'Malleythis week - has put a serious crimp in their finances. In particular, they blame the state's decision to shift a portion of the cost of teacher retirement contributions to Baltimore City and the counties as ruinous to their own budgets.

In its coverage of the reactions to the negotiated changes to the state's pension plans ("State workers decry new pension plan", April 6), the changes described the financial help given to state employees due to the increase from 5 to 7 percent in their withholdings for pension contributions. Not mentioned in this increase is that deductions are pretax and part of the increased withholding will be offset by a reduction of payroll withholding taxes to this increase. But we also read that employees will be receiving a $750 bonus to help "smooth the transition" to the new plan.

Welcome to Week 2! Given that all the dancers last week were either good dancers or good sports or both, I'm particularly happy this is a season that didn't have a week 1 elimination. I'm looking forward to seeing everybody dance again. Brooke's dress is a bright-yellow boob showcase. It's like she's framed her cleavage.  Introductions: Martina's wearing a red bikini top and fishing net. I miss Edyta. Roshon Fegan & Chelsie Hightower Roshon's hip-hop background is bumping up against the control and elegance required in ballroom as they practice their quickstep.

Nearly 2,000 Harford County government employees received a bonus last month, but, time is running out for several thousand educators whose union has rejected County Executive David R. Craig's one-time offer. The dispute pits Craig, who is term-limited and considering a run for higher office, against the county's most powerful and largest union, of which he was once a member. Craig and leaders of the Harford County Education Association say they are still trying to resolve the impasse that has put a damper on his much publicized plan to distribute $11 million from a budget surplus among local employees.

WASHINGTON - The Senate has rejected President Barack Obama's proposal to give a $250 bonus payment to people on Social Security. The proposal failed by a 50-47 vote in which Republicans and Democratic budget hawks opposed the idea for adding $14 billion to the budget deficit. Proponents said the $250 payment was needed to make up for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment this year for beneficiaries. Disabled people and veterans also would have been eligible for the payments. - Associated Press

Maryland's success in tying for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball standings means not only bragging rights for the Terps and their fans, but also a lucrative bonus for coach Gary Williams and smaller bonuses for his assistants. Williams' contract calls for him to receive $318,000 "if the men's basketball team finishes the regular season in a two-way tie for first place in the ACC men's basketball standings." The 19th-ranked Terrapins finished tied with No. 4 Duke at 13-3.

Maryland's success in tying for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball standings means not only bragging rights for the Terps and their fans, but also a lucrative bonus for coach Gary Williams and smaller bonuses for his assistants. Williams' contract calls for him to receive $318,000 "if the men's basketball team finishes the regular season in a two-way tie for first place in the ACC men's basketball standings." The 19th-ranked Terrapins finished tied with No. 4 Duke at 13-3.

Left tackle Bryant McKinnie appeared to remove any lingering doubt when he went to his Twitter account last night to tell Ravens fans that team officials confirmed to him that he would back for this coming season. So it was no surprise that 4 p.m. today came and went, and McKinnie, who started all 18 games last season, remained on the roster. The Ravens informed McKinnie that they will pick up his $500,000 roster bonus, which was due today. With free agent right tackle Eric Winston having scheduled a visit to Baltimore, there were some questions about McKinnie's future with the Ravens. There's still plenty that could happen in free agency or the draft, but today's development solidifies McKinnie as the starting left tackle for now. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if the Ravens drafted a left tackle in April because McKinnie has only one more year remaining on his contract.

Twelve days ago MI Developments Inc. revealed a $5.5 million bonus program for the Grade I Preakness at Pimlico Race Course. Tuesday, the company announced a similar, $2.2 million bonus for the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan stakes that has been traditionally run for fillies the Friday before the Preakness. To qualify for the $2.2 million bonus, $2 million of which goes to the owner and $200,000 to the trainer, a filly has to win three designated races at Gulfstream Park (the Forward Gal Stakes, the Davona Dale and the Oaks)

Harford's teachers have been cleared to finally get the bonuses set aside for them by County Executive David Craig, after the county council approved a $2.1 million appropriation for the bonus money Tuesday. Teachers were supposed to get the $1,250 bonus along with all other county employees by the end of 2011, but Craig vetoed that bill after the Harford County Education Association teachers' union tried to get more control over the funding distribution. The county board of education finalized a collective bargaining agreement with HCEA on Feb. 13, according to the council bill.

Left tackle Bryant McKinnie appeared to remove any lingering doubt when he went to his Twitter account last night to tell Ravens fans that team officials confirmed to him that he would back for this coming season. So it was no surprise that 4 p.m. today came and went, and McKinnie, who started all 18 games last season, remained on the roster. The Ravens informed McKinnie that they will pick up his $500,000 roster bonus, which was due today. With free agent right tackle Eric Winston having scheduled a visit to Baltimore, there were some questions about McKinnie's future with the Ravens. There's still plenty that could happen in free agency or the draft, but today's development solidifies McKinnie as the starting left tackle for now. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if the Ravens drafted a left tackle in April because McKinnie has only one more year remaining on his contract.

Ravens left tackle Bryant McKinnie flew to Baltimore yesterday to meet with team officials and apparently got the answers that he was seeking. "Raven Fans, I was n Baltimore 2day, 2 confirm that ill be there next season," McKinnie said last night on his Twitter account. Was it even a question whether he was coming back? It may not have been much of one a couple of weeks ago as the Ravens don't have another experienced left tackle on their roster unless you count Michael Oher.

Editor: Monday night over 60 teachers took a stand to maintain high quality schools for the students of Harford County. Dressed in black, six teachers spoke about their relationship with their students and the need for adequate resources to help our children raise the ceiling on student achievement. We must do what's right for Harford County's students by investing in our schools and children's future. Research has shown that the quality of education a student receives depends on the relationship between the teacher and student in the classroom.

Members of a union for Harford County educators have accepted an agreement with the school system that will allow members to accept a one-time bonus that had been held up for months over a disagreement with County Executive David R. Craig. Nearly 2,000 Harford government employees received the first half of the $1,250 bonus in December and expect the remaining money in June. But the teachers union rejected the offer, saying Craig did should have run the offer by union and school board first.

Harford County's teachers union and school board reached a tentative deal Wednesday to amend this school year's contract to include half of the county executive's proposed bonus disbursement. The amendment allows for a one-time payment of $625 for all teachers, as long as the funding is approved by County Executive David R. Craig, a Republican and teacher in the district for 34 years, and the County Council, according to a statement Wednesday evening from Harford County's public schools.

Horsemen who won purse money at the Timonium meet might be in for a pleasant surprise -- a bonus -- when the final betting numbers, less operating expenses, are calculated in a couple of weeks."

With the backing of stakeholders, Merry-Go-Round Enterprises Inc. has agreed to pay a modest bonus -- $125,000 -- to the outgoing crisis management team that led the fashion retailer through a tumultuous period of store closings, layoffs and unrelenting financial losses.Meridian Ventures, brought in on an interim basis in mid-January, could have collected as much as $1.3 million in bonuses had the consultants remained with the Joppa-based chain when it emerges from bankruptcy.But under the revised deal, approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Meridian will receive two installments -- $75,000 for closing on a $90 million line of credit, obtained last week, and $50,000 when Merry-Go-Round wins confirmation of a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Nearly 2,000 Harford County government employees received a bonus last month, but, time is running out for several thousand educators whose union has rejected County Executive David R. Craig's one-time offer. The dispute pits Craig, who is term-limited and considering a run for higher office, against the county's most powerful and largest union, of which he was once a member. Craig and leaders of the Harford County Education Association say they are still trying to resolve the impasse that has put a damper on his much publicized plan to distribute $11 million from a budget surplus among local employees.