Hunt Valley

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. saw its second-quarter income jump 61 percent and raised its quarterly dividend as political advertising far exceeded company expectations, the Hunt Valley broadcaster said Wednesday. The company earned $30.1 million, or 37 cents per share, in the three months that ended June 30, up from $18.6 million, or 23 cents per share, in the same period the year before. The company's stock jumped 13 percent Wednesday, rising $1.31 a share to $11.51 each in Nasdaq trading.

Bank of America warned state regulators Friday that it expects to lay off 55 employees in Baltimore County. The company said the cuts at its McCormick Road location in Hunt Valley, where employees process customer transactions, would run from Nov. 30 through Jan. 31. Workers could be eligible for severance pay and assistance finding a new job, the bank said. "We continually evaluate our operations and look for ways to better deliver for our customer/clients," Nicole Nastacie, a Bank of America spokeswoman, said by email.

Rij Patel is every golf coach's nightmare. His swing is as unconventional as they come. Rij describes it as "weird" and "bad," and it's enough to make nearby golfers do a double take. But their amusement turns to awe as his contorted clubface finally straightens itself out at the last possible moment before impact. Rij is also every coach's dream. As metal meets ball, one can't help but wonder how such power comes from the Rij's frame - small, even for a 14-year-old. He's mature beyond his years, is intelligent and spends much of his time practicing at Hunt Valley Golf Club, where he and his parents belong.

Nalley Fresh has become a neighborhood favorite for the downtown office crowd, who line up to create their own rice bowls ($5.75), burrito wraps ($7.50) and salads ($8.30). Those prices include the addition of a basic protein, vegetables, homemade dressings and cheeses. You pick them out, and a counter crew prepares it. Lunch for $10 or less: Nalley Fresh Sound easy? It's not. Well, not the first time. The interface at Nalley Fresh can be confusing. You can add eight toppings to a salad, but it's hard to see all of your options before you start picking them out. It's really only a problem on your first visit, and the Nalley gang has learned to look out for customers with that deer-in-the-headlights stare - “First time?

As of 9 a.m. Monday, traffic was slow on the outer loop of I-695 near I-795, due to an accident. Accidents were slowing traffic on I-95 southbound at the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore City and Mountain Road and Franklinville Road in Harford County. Debris in the road was blocking traffic on U.S. 50 westbound at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The Maryland Transit Administration is warning light rail patrons to expect minor service delays between Hunt Valley and Cromwell. Light rail service is suspended between the Timonium and Hunt Valley stations due to construction work.

As of 9 a.m., traffic was slow on Route 295 southbound at Route 195 in Anne Arundel County, due to an accident involving three vehicles. Debris in the road was slowing traffic on Falls Road near Shawan Road in Baltimore County. The Maryland Transit Administration is warning passengers to expect delays on the light rail line from Cromwell to Hunt Valley. The 9:28 a.m. trip from Cromwell has been canceled. Light rail service is suspended between the Timonium and Hunt Valley stations due to construction work.

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. will renew Fox Broadcasting Co. affiliations with 19 of its television stations in an agreement that also allows Sinclair to purchase a Fox-owned station in Baltimore. Under the agreement with Fox, Sinclair has the option to buy WUTB, Fox's MyNetwork station in Baltimore, for up to $52.7 million between July 1 and March 31, 2013. Sinclair negotiated for the option to strengthen its position as owner of a Fox affiliate in Baltimore, one of the broadcaster's most important markets, David Smith, Sinclair's chief executive and president, said in a statement.

Genevieve O'Neill Williams, a homemaker who enjoyed singing with her family, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease May 2 at her Towson home. She was 88. Born Genevieve O'Neill in Baltimore, she was the daughter of pulmonary specialist Dr. John O'Neill. Her mother died when she was a baby. An aunt, M. Genevieve Thuman, a Johns Hopkins librarian, raised her at the family's Mount Washington home. She was a 1941 graduate of the old Mount St. Agnes High School in Mount Washington, where she earned a diploma at its junior college.

As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, traffic was slow at Linwood Road and Madison Street, due to an accident. Cleanup from an accident was slowing traffic on Washington Boulevard near I-195 in Baltimore County. A disabled vehicle was blocking traffic on U.S. 29 south at Old Columbia Road in Howard County. Debris in the road was blocking traffic on the inner loop of I-695 near Greenspring Avenue in Baltimore County. Light rail service is suspended between the Timonium and Hunt Valley stations due to construction work.

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., a Hunt Valley-based operator of television stations across the United States, said Wednesday that its profit nearly doubled in the first quarter, fueled by higher sales of political and other ads and the acquisition of several new stations. The company, which operates 74 stations in 45 markets, reported a profit of $29.4 million, or 36 cents a share, in the quarter ended March 31, compared with $15.3 million, or 19 cents a share, in the similar period last year.