Financial Support

It's flu season, and many Americans have been to the doctor or school clinic for a flu shot. These shots protect us - especially the most vulnerable, our children and the elderly - from the season's harshest bugs, and prevent a simple infection from turning into something much worse. In the world's poorest countries, the picture is much different. Each year, 2 million to 3 million children in developing countries, mainly in Africa, die from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines available today.

Never before has so much child support been raised from deadbeats. Last year, Maryland collected record amounts of money from shirking parents, but Gov. Parris N. Glendening said yesterday that the state is not stopping there.The governor announced a new effort to go after hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid child support.The campaign is anchored by a slick, three-year, $3 million advertising blitz that boils down to: Pay up, parents, or the state will put the squeeze on you. You will not be able to renew your driver's license.

Officers of Carroll County's Civil Air Patrol asked yesterday for continued financial support from Carroll County -- the only county in the state that still gives a direct contribution to these civilian volunteers.The amount budgeted for the air patrol would drop from $7,500 to $5,000 in the next fiscal budget, as part of a three-year plan to eliminate financial support.Steven D. Powell, county director of management and budget, said he was asked to take another look and to consider freezing the group's level of support.

SEN. BOB DOLE attacked Hollywood's values and products last April while campaigning for president in Iowa.A reporter's search of computerized archives of newspapers found no previous such foray in Dole's long career. This led to speculation that candidate Dole was just moving tactically to cover his flank on the cultural right, where such veteran cultural right-wingers as Pat Buchanan were a possible threat.A good theory, but after last week's second Dole attack on Hollywood -- this one delivered in a speech in Los Angeles -- it's necessary to think about other motives on the senator's part.

THERE'S A "TRUTH SQUAD" nipping at Dr. Robert C. Gallo's heels. At the moment, its four members are pressing furiously to stir up a hornet's nest in the state legislature about the famed scientist's Center for Human Virology, set to open in January. But these critics are confusing scientific etiquette with economic development. Their dispute with Dr. Gallo has little to do with the world-class institute he plans to run, with state and city financial support, in Baltimore.Dr. Gallo, generally regarded as the co-discoverer of the AIDS virus, says these critics are on a "witch hunt."

Others may be waiting for a perfect alignment of political moons, but not Ellen Sauerbrey. She's running now.The Baltimore County Republican has a billboard posted along U.S. 50 on the way to the Shore proclaiming her candidacy for governor. She hired an airplane to tow an "Ellen Sauerbrey for Governor" banner over Ocean City during the Fourth of July weekend.She and her aides telephoned 700 supporters in Baltimore County recently to measure potential financial and volunteer support. Twenty-two percent said they would contribute.

The board of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association voted last night to restore its financial support of the Maryland Million.But, at the same time, the horsemen's group asked the Maryland Million Committee, which is scheduled to convene today at 10:30 a.m. in Timonium, to consider four changes to its proposed Oct. 9 race card.According to Richard Hoffberger, MTHA president, the horsemen want the two 2-year-old races and the Distaff for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, to stay at six furlongs instead of being lengthened to seven furlongs.

Westminster city government is applying for $10,000 in state aid to help cover first-year staff costs for the Greater Westminster Development Corp. (GWDC).The grant application calls for a tentative initial budget of $73,000 for the new business development organization. The budget is based on about $30,000 in city financing and an equal amount from county or private sources.Westminster is also seeking a separate $8,000 state grant to update standards for renovation, including building facades, in the downtown area.

ANNAPOLIS -- Concerned about the rights of men accused of beating their wives or girlfriends, the House Judiciary Committee yesterday weakened a Schaefer administration bill that would give battered women more potential remedies in court.After weeks of struggling, the panel approved a score of amendments narrowing the scope of the legislation. No one on either side of the issue was happy with the result.The bill, which already passed the Senate, would still enable battered women to seek civil protection orders requiring abusers to leave their home for up to six months.

THIS week the doors of schools all over Maryland open again for classes. For teachers, students and others directly involved in this annual return, there is the usual mix of anticipation and anxiety. But for just about everyone else, this annual rite of autumn will probably go unnoticed. And there's the problem.Despite the fact that American education is a hot conversational topic, productive activity by those not directly associated with schools has fallen far short of the need. Direct financial assistance such as Eugene Lang's "I Have a Dream" foundation, which guarantees successful elementary-secondary students scholarships to college, and business coalitions' financial support represent only a small fraction of what could be done by America's most influential sector -- the business community.

As Maryland weighs painful cuts in its struggle to achieve a balanced budget, how can the state justify providing financial support for Maryland's 18 private colleges and universities? That's the question raised by recent critics. Their question deserves an answer. State support for independent institutions reaches back as far as the 18th century. Known in its current form as the Sellinger program - after the Rev. Joseph A. Sellinger, longtime president of Loyola College - this funding has been evaluated and endorsed time and again by various state study commissions, by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (of which I am the chairman)

USA Swimming said late last night that it has decided to suspend Michael Phelps from competition for the next three months as punishment for a photo that was published in a British tabloid over the weekend that appeared to show him smoking marijuana. The organization's board of directors voted on the decision, saying the intent was to send Phelps a "strong message" that it did not approve of his behavior. USA Swimming also said it is withdrawing financial support from Phelps during the suspension, a mostly symbolic punishment.

USA Swimming has suspended Michael Phelps for three months after a photo of him with a marijuana pipe was published last weekend. The sport's national governing body also cut off financial support for three months to the Olympic gold-medal winner. Sports

Keisha Hogan, 28, of Columbia said that without a scholarship to Howard Community College, she would have to work more hours, which would be difficult to balance with classes, studying and caring for two children. "Every little bit [of scholarship money] works towards something, because college costs," said Hogan, who has a 9-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. "Scholarships allow us to free up the time to go to school." Last week, Hogan and more than 80 other students had an opportunity to express their appreciation in person to the sources of their financial support at HCC's student/donor reception on the Columbia campus.

WASHINGTON -- Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani ran a frugal presidential campaign during the first three months of this year, leaving him with nearly as much money in the bank for next year's Republican presidential primaries as the party's most formidable fundraiser, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Giuliani reported $10.8 million in cash available for the primary season from contributions of $13.6 million for those elections as of March 31. Romney showed a balance of $11.9 million from $20.7 million in contributions.

It's flu season, and many Americans have been to the doctor or school clinic for a flu shot. These shots protect us - especially the most vulnerable, our children and the elderly - from the season's harshest bugs, and prevent a simple infection from turning into something much worse. In the world's poorest countries, the picture is much different. Each year, 2 million to 3 million children in developing countries, mainly in Africa, die from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines available today.

THE ISSUE: Even as Howard Community College prepares to open its $20 million visual and performing arts center, the Columbia Association's board has turned down a proposal to donate $200,000 to the facility. Some board members were concerned about adding to the association's debt, though they stressed the importance of close ties between the college and the community, and the importance of the arts. What formal role, if any, do you think the Columbia Association should have in relation to the community college's arts programs?

THE ISSUE: Even as Howard Community College prepares to open its $20 million visual and performing arts center, the Columbia Association's board has turned down a proposal to donate $200,000 to the facility. Some board members were concerned about adding to the association's debt, though they stressed the importance of close ties between the college and the community, and the importance of the arts. What formal role, if any, do you think the Columbia Association should have in relation to the community college's arts programs?

ICAT Logistics breaks ground for building ICAT Logistics Inc. broke ground last month for its 20,646- square-foot building on Douglas Legum Drive in Elkridge. The company, near Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, provides expedited transportation and logistics services. The company, which has outgrown its quarters, organizes and guarantees delivery of critical freight such as medical products, rollouts for retailers, hazardous and biological waste, trade-show booths and displays, airplane engines, helicopter blades, automotive parts and other items.

The Naval Academy has extended a big helping hand to a fellow institution made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. When New Orleans-based Tulane University visits Saturday for the Midshipmen's homecoming game, it will truly be the honored guest, courtesy of the academy. Navy will pick up virtually all the expenses for Tulane's trip, including airfare, hotel rooms, meals and ground transportation after having forwarded the visiting team's guarantee (about $125,000) in advance. "We're just doing everything we can to support them," said academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk.