Committed

Some state lawmakers questioned yesterday whether a proposal to bolster the powers of prosecutors to pursue violent gang members was necessary and voiced fears that it would unfairly target people who hadn't committed crimes. The bill would allow local prosecutors to lay out evidence at trial that a crime was ordered or planned by gang leaders. For instance, in a murder case, not only the shooter but also the gang leaders "who called the shots" could face charges of promoting gang-related criminal activity, in addition to charges of solicitation to commit murder or conspiracy, said Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank M. Kratovil Jr., who is president of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association.

During the final, bruising months of his failed bid for re-election, then-County Executive John G. Gary doled out more than $750,000 in taxpayer funds -- money that was committed elsewhere, or that didn't exist, his opponents say -- for popular projects in key swing districts.Announcements that he had approved the purchase of new firetrucks, construction of a modern police substation and a long-sought community center were trumpeted during ceremonies that included a ribbon-cutting and the presentation of giant checks.

Quoting Bible, knowing its meaning are different"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Lately, I have heard this statement used many times to justify the actions of the president of the United States.Not one time did I hear this quote in its proper context and completion. Yes, Jesus did say, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." He also said to the woman in question, "Go and sin no more."Apparently, the president and a substantial number of people feel that no matter how many times a person commits a sin or crime all is forgiven by mere admission or confession.

AUSTIN, Texas -- On Aug. 17, the state of Texas is scheduled to kill Larry Robison, a paranoid schizophrenic whose insanity was diagnosed long before he committed a terrible crime. This is like putting someone to death for having cancer or being paraplegic. It is freakish that he ever stood trial at all.Robison is the son of schoolteachers in Fort Worth. Ken and Lois Robison raised eight children together -- four from her first marriage (her husband died of a malignant brain tumor when Larry was 2)

A RECENT event in the U.S. Supreme Court that went virtually unnoticed in this country would have been decried as incomprehensibly inhumane in almost every other nation.The justices blew off the appeal of a Nevada man sentenced to death for two murders committed when he was 16. His lawyers argued that his execution would violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which bars capital punishment for crimes committed before age 18.The courts indifference was no surprise.

An excerpt from a Monday San Jose Mercury News editorial:CONGRESS may have had "The Godfather" in mind when it wrote a landmark anti-racketeering law. But last week, a jury in Chicago applied the statute to punish violent protesters, not mobsters.In this instance, the jury's finding and the fine appeared warranted. But Congress should watch the expanded use of the law, known as RICO, and rewrite it if necessary. There is a danger that the government and the targets of protest could use RICO to limit free speech.

Quote: "We came out and played a beer league game. The only thing missing was a keg around second base." -- Mariners manager Lou Piniella, whose team committed four errors, leading to four unearned runs.It's a fact: The start of the sixth inning was held up for two minutes while the video of the Belmont Stakes was shown on the Yankee Stadium scoreboard.Who's hot: Yankees closer Mariano Rivera lowered his ERA to 0.44 with a scoreless inning.Who's not: Mariners second baseman Joey Cora committed three errors, leading to three uneared runs.

The Ravens and a church-based community group are at an apparent impasse in talks to fund an after-school program for city children the team said it would help.At the height of the legislative battle to preserve stadium funding last year, the Ravens, through the Maryland Stadium Authority, committed to a program of charitable giving. Among the proposed beneficiaries: the Child First Authority, a group created by BUILD, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, and authorized by state law.BUILD is seeking a commitment of $300,000 a year each from the Ravens and Orioles, as well as other contributions from downtown employers, foundations and governments.

With attention focused on the issue of domestic violence since the killing last week of Patricia A. Titus of Hampstead, Carroll County State's Attorney Jerry F. Barnes says he will propose state legislation next year to allow prosecutors to request the death penalty in murder cases that result from the violation of a protective court order.Titus, 40, the mother of two small boys, was found June 2 by police in a bedroom closet of her home. She had been strangled, according to a state medical examiner's report.

IRVING, Texas -- Fuzzy Zoeller has committed to play in next week's Colonial tournament in nearby Fort Worth, the first time he will play on the PGA Tour since his racially insensitive remarks regarding Masters champion Tiger Woods forced him to withdraw from last month's Chrysler Greensboro Classic.Woods also has committed to compete, and the two are expected to meet for the first time since this controversy began in Augusta, when Zoeller discussed the menu for next year's champions dinner before the Masters.

The following are excerpts from Ronald J. Daniels speech Sunday marking his formal installation as president of the Johns Hopkins University. The full text of Mr. Daniels' speech is available at baltimoresun.com/opinion. Thank you for the trust and confidence that you have invested in me by inviting me to serve as the president of this magnificent university. I can think of no greater honor or privilege than to lead Johns Hopkins. On this day, I commit to you, without reservation, that I will work tirelessly to champion our great cause.

After their 23-0 preseason win over the Redskins, do you think the Ravens are better, worse or about the same as last year's team? Better 54% Worse 8% The same 38% (1,332 votes, results not scientific) Next poll: : After the recent shooting at Harborplace, the Baltimore police committed to stepped up enforcement downtown. Are you confident in the city's ability to keep the harbor safe? Vote at baltimoresun.com/vote

The father of a 24-year-old woman who was stabbed to death in a Catonsville liquor store nine months ago is furious that her killer has been declared not criminally responsible for his act - Maryland's equivalent of an insanity defense. Mike Ring, whose daughter, Aysha D. Ring, was killed in the attack, told a Baltimore Circuit Court judge last week that the assailant, David A. Briggs, pretended to be mentally ill after the killing, a "ruse of mental incapacitation" designed to deceive the criminal-justice system and avoid its worst penalties.

Twenty-one times this season - out of 29 games - Maryland has committed fewer turnovers than the opposition. Tuesday night, Maryland had 10 turnovers and forced 16. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/terpsblog)

Sure, there are problems with TCM's annual 31 days of Oscar celebration, the period when TV's best movie station shows nothing but Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated films. For instance, do we really need to see 1936's The Great Ziegfeld or 1952's The Greatest Show on Earth again? And how about digging up a copy of 1933's Best Picture winner, Cavalcade, which is almost never shown on television? Still, it's days like today that make you want to give the programmers at TCM a great big bear hug. Playing two of the greatest movies ever made back-to-back?

A convicted killer who was found not criminally responsible this month for his third homicide will remain incarcerated at a maximum-security prison while receiving treatment for his psychiatric illnesses from the state health department - a decision that defense attorneys say effectively "guts" the laws designed to protect the criminally insane. The determination to keep Kevin G. Johns Jr. at the Supermax prison in Baltimore came after the prison's warden and the security chief of the state's maximum-security psychiatric hospital concluded that the medical facility would not be able to keep its staff or patients safe with Johns there, even if he is confined to the ward reserved for the hospital's most dangerous patients.

The state has committed $28 million to help pay for a project that will add an interchange to Interstate 795 in Owings Mills, officials said yesterday. Gov. Martin O'Malley joined Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. for the announcement at the site of the future Dolfield Boulevard interchange. The state funding will include engineering, design and some construction. The county is contributing $625,000, officials said. A bridge and an extension of Dolfield Boulevard also are planned.

It's time to stop this mincing little soft-shoe routine over the issue of torture. Torture is not difficult to define, and neither is the extent to which agents of the executive branch can use it. Torture is immoral and un-American and of doubtful utility - but it is also a criminal act. And anyone who commits torture is committing a crime. The CIA's admission that it destroyed at least two tapes of sessions that employed techniques of "enhanced interrogation" is an admission that it destroyed evidence of crimes.

Sept. 11 2001 In the single worst act of terrorism committed on U.S. soil, nearly 3,000 people died when hijacked jetliners crashed into New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon and in western Pennsylvania.

Some state lawmakers questioned yesterday whether a proposal to bolster the powers of prosecutors to pursue violent gang members was necessary and voiced fears that it would unfairly target people who hadn't committed crimes. The bill would allow local prosecutors to lay out evidence at trial that a crime was ordered or planned by gang leaders. For instance, in a murder case, not only the shooter but also the gang leaders "who called the shots" could face charges of promoting gang-related criminal activity, in addition to charges of solicitation to commit murder or conspiracy, said Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank M. Kratovil Jr., who is president of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association.