Hope

I can empathize withRobert L. Ehrlich Jr.in his hope that the Supreme Court will strike down Obamacare in its entirety ("Obamacare and birth control: Women's health isn't the issue," April 8). The Affordable Care Act that became law bears little resemblance to the bill that was introduced, only to be slashed, ripped, compromised and otherwise reduced to a few good points. And now those few good points are being nibbled at afresh. It's pathetic that the Administration had to declare some form of victory in what emerged as the ACA because, although it brings medical care to certain ranks of the uninsured, I can see no great savings at the governmental or personal level.

The Middle East is blowing up, teachers are protesting instead of teaching, oil prices climbing, but what is really important? Why Charlie Sheen of course. Does anyone really care? I hope not or we are really lost. Finton Cordell, Lutherville

Two women were stabbed in the 200 block of South Broadway yesterday afternoon and their alleged attacker was shot and critically wounded by a store owner armed with a .45-caliber pistol, Baltimore police reported.Police identified the knife-wielding man as Harry Hope, 38, of the 600 block of N. Glover St. The stabbings, which were apparently sparked by an argument, occurred about 1 p.m. in an area just north of Fells Point.Mr. Hope underwent surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition last night.

Two women were stabbed in the 200 block of South Broadway yesterday afternoon and their alleged attacker was shot and critically wounded by a store owner armed with a .45-caliber pistol, Baltimore police reported.Police identified the knife-wielding man as Harry Hope, 38, of the 600 block of N. Glover St. The stabbings, which were apparently sparked by an argument, occurred about 1 p.m. in an area just north of Fells Point.Mr. Hope underwent surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition last night.

Two women were stabbed in the 200 block of S. Broadway yesterday afternoon and their alleged attacker was shot and critically wounded by a store owner armed with a .45-caliber pistol, Baltimore police reported.Police identified the knife-wielding man as Harry Hope, 38, of the 600 block of N. Glover St. The stabbings, which were apparently sparked by an argument, occurred about 1 p.m. just north of Fells Point.Mr. Hope underwent surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition today.

A Carroll County group that provides housing for low-income and elderly people has run into a problem in its effort to help two families become homeowners.The problem: Four of the six families who have applied to rent, then buy, two townhouses on Union Street in Westminster don't have enough income to cover the costs.Two other applications are still being processed.Meanwhile, Housing Ownership Purchase Effort Inc. (HOPE) is looking for additional applications, while cutting costs and income requirements in an effort to make the houses more affordable.

•A sacred music concert with Ray and Ann Gibbs will be held at 10:30 a.m. April 4 at Anchor Baptist Church, 320 W. Pasadena Road in Millersville. Child care for children up to age 3 is available. Call 410-647-9614 or go to anchorbaptistonline.org for more information. •Spring concerts will be held at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., at 7:30 p.m. April 16 and 3 p.m. April 17. Admission is free. There will be a free-will offering, with donations supporting the Arundel House of Hope and Ministry of Hope.

As a longtime resident of Columbia, I continue to be disturbed by the failure of this town and of Howard County — government and individual citizens alike — to implement widespread use of renewable energy sources such as solar. Procrastination globally is producing dire consequences, leaving no aspect of the biosphere immune. I sincerely hope that the underlying positive and undespairing spirit that once imbued Columbia has not dissipated to an immateriality. I hope that the once-prevalent intelligentsia who formerly inhabited our city has not grown too old or jaded, and that it is being replaced by younger generation of intellectuals with similar concerns regarding the planet Earth.

Republicans lament the action taken by our president to make a recess appointment - finally - to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a valuable government agency. I do not know the likely outcome of any challenge to this action, but hope that it stands in the face of obstructionists who want to subvert consumer protection law. Americans deserve such protection as evidenced by the preponderance of subterfuge in the past decade. Since they claim to have no issue with the appointee (former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray)