Impact

Thank you for a great article ("Major rules deserve a vote," Commentary, Aug. 10), which states what I have been saying for quite a while. As I have spoken at various organizations, within and outside of the credit union movement, I've stated that we now have four branches of the federal government, legislative, judicial, executive, and regulatory. I've been involved with our credit union and the credit union movement for some 40 years. The past two years have been unbelievable in the amount of regulatory impact we have had to deal with.

Almost three weeks after NBA player Jason Collins became the first openly gay active male athlete in a major American sport -- and yes, all those qualifiers are necessary -- new polling data shows a majority of Americans wouldn't care if their favorite athlete was gay. In a comprehensive survey conducted by Reason-Rupe, only 12 percent of those polled said they would be less likely to support their favorite jock if he or she came out, while 77...

Miriam Frankl's aunt, Rebecca German, is a professor at the Hopkins School of Medicine. She shared the victim impact statement she read at Meighan's sentencing with the Baltimore Sun: "I am Rebecca German, Miriam Frankl's aunt. I have no children of my own, and my niece and nephews mean a lot to me. When Miriam was killed I lost two women. The first is the girl who I was at her birth, a million times in between and again on the day that she died. She was fearless and bold, and was exploring and discovering and expressing herself from an early age. I ache every time I think about her smile, her freckles and of all that beauty inside and out that is now gone.

The impact of Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones was obvious every time that one of the speedy outside wide receivers ran past flat-footed defenders and under a long, arching throw from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. Smith, now entering his third season, has quickly become one of the NFL's premier deep threats. And Jones, who got behind defenses for huge touchdowns twice in the postseason, also has speed to be reckoned with. Part of their hidden impact -- besides forcing safeties to back away from the line of scrimmage to protect against the big play -- came in the penalties they drew downfield when they weren't catching Flacco's deep balls.

In celebration of Oriole Park at Camden Yards' 20th year anniversary, the club debuted the above infographic that details the ballpark's impact on Baltimore and Major League Baseball.

Misty Sexton writes a nice letter ( "Consumers can afford a 10-cent gas tax increase, but many businesses can't," March 17) stating several examples of increased operating expenses for business owners caused by a 10-cent a gasoline tax increase. I have no reason to believe her examples are not accurate. She does however, fail to point out how these increases negatively affect the businesses she gives as examples. It may make the business less profitable, assuming the company does not pass the increase on, as most probably will (and thus have no effect on their bottom line)

If the Jaguars are to get their passing game on track, they know where they have to start. They need to get the ball to tight end Marcedes Lewis. He made the Pro Bowl last year for the first time, catching 58 passes. He signed a five-year $34 million contract after the lockout with $17 million guaranteed. In his prime at age 27, Lewis had established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league and was poised to become a regular at the Pro Bowl. "I don't want to miss that again," Lewis said in August.

An interfaith peace garden in Northeast Baltimore builds tolerance among religions through annual conversations about forgiveness. At-risk youth forgive others and themselves with the help of drumming and dance. It's all part of a four-year Maryland Public Television campaign wrapping up this Tuesday to promote love and forgiveness. But participants say the program, part of an effort to build the concepts nationwide, will have a lasting impact. MPT was one of five stations that worked with the Fetzer Institute, a foundation based in Michigan that "engages with people and organizations to bring the power of love, forgiveness and compassion to the center of individual and community life," said Linda Grdina, an officer with the Fetzer program.

Catherine Jones' landscapes, such as "After the Rain IV" shown here, have an emotional, expressive impact that provides a good deal of their strength. She is one of three artists exhibiting in "Tiers," a show that opens today at Resurgam. The other artists are Suzanne Hecker, whose works combine printmaking and sculpture and are autobiographical; and Tiffany Holmes, whose multi-media paintings with collage feature distorted figures in surreal environments.Resurgam Gallery, 910 South Charles St., noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 29. For information call (410)

If you prefer more wrestling and less talking on wrestling programs, you probably hated Thursday night's TNA Impact. However, if strong promos are more your thing, then you probably really liked the show. With all the talking and just four matches, the show never dragged for me. The absence of any lame comedy skits also was appreciated. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/ringposts)

All of us mourn the loss of Richard E. Hug, who had a profound impact on the civic and political life of our community (May 7). I thought it might be useful to single out the incredible impact that Dick had on the formative years of the University of Maryland Medical System beginning in 1984 and continuing to this day. In our privatization process beginning in 1984, Dick was a key member of the first board of directors and, equally important to...

The Howard County Board of Education is considering expanding its restrictions (Wellness Policy 9090) on the types of foods which can be served at school events to include those sold via "concessions, celebrations, and vending machines. " I believe they have failed to consider the negative impact this could have. Many of the fundraisers in our schools either directly or indirectly involve the sale of food, and much of this food falls outside the Wellness Policy. The money currently raised allows extracurricular activities such as sports and after prom parties to be safer and more fulfilling to our students.

The United Way of Central Maryland will provide nearly $3 million in community grants intended to provide financial stability to families, quality education to children and healthy alternatives to individuals, the organization said this week. In all, 71 nonprofit programs will receive funding to change the lives of impoverished Marylanders. The money is expected to help offset a loss in services some may experience as a result of federal sequestration. "Our region is simultaneously experiencing increases in poverty rates and government cuts to critical social programs," said Dominique Moore, chairwoman of the local United Way's Baltimore City Partnership Board.

Gov. Martin O'Malley Monday announced something that had been widely known in Baltimore at least for the last two weeks: That the Netflix series "House of Cards" was back in town to film its second season. The White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington Saturday night opened with a spoof featuring Kevin Spacey that was filmed on the "House of Cards" set. And crew members have been working for the last two weeks inside the Baltimore Sun building on Calvert Street rebuilding the "House of Cards" newsroom set. But principal photography on the the second season officially started today, according to the Maryland Film Office.

Labor unions representing federal employees reacted angrily to the $3.8 trillion budget unveiled Wednesday by President Barack Obama, who proposed trimming $20 billion from federal retirement benefits - reopening a debate many Democrats felt had been resolved last year. The 2014 spending plan - which arrived months late - would reduce annual budget deficits by an additional $1 trillion over a decade, according to the administration's estimates; raise the federal minimum wage to $9; curb Social Security spending; increase the federal cigarette tax and close tax loopholes the Obama administration has pursued for years without success.

When attackman Stephen Banick broke his left leg in Stevenson's loss to Salisbury in an NCAA tournament semifinal on May 20 and then sustained an unrelated, undisclosed injury in the preseason that will likely force him to miss the current campaign, the door appeared to be open for sophomore Pat Candon to assert himself as a starter. But Candon has started just twice as junior Chris Dashiell has moved from the midfield and sophomore Mark Pannenton has transferred from SUNY-Cortland to join senior Tyler Reid as the starting attackmen.

The Maryland Hospital Association, which represents dozens of hospitals in the state, said Thursday that it has contracted with a New-York based company to buy health care data and services, including analysis of federal health policy and the new reform law's impact on finances. The contract is with Albany-based DataGen. In an unrelated deal, health care information provider Press Ganey Associates Inc. said that it has acquired the Quality Indicator Project division from the Maryland Hospital Association.

Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff is enduring the worst stretch of his career from long distance, missing five of six field-goal attempts from 50 yards or more. But Cundiff, who went to the Pro Bowl last season, is 20-for-21 from under 50 yards this season. Still, coach John Harbaugh conceded during his weekly news conference Monday that Cundiff's struggles could affect decisions on whether to attempt a long-range field goal, punt the ball or go for it on fourth down. “It could, I think, especially with the weather getting a little tougher,” Harbaugh said.

A month after across-the-board federal spending cuts began, there are signs that one of the most troubling potential consequences for Maryland — the furloughing of federal employees — might not be as widespread as initially feared. But the state has not gone unscathed by the $85 billion in cuts known as sequestration, and some of the first tangible changes in the Baltimore area are beginning to emerge as federal services are trimmed. Fort McHenry in Baltimore and the Hampton National Historic Site near Towson plan to cut hours this summer, limiting visits by tourists.

A bill moving through the General Assembly would give Maryland farmers a 10-year reprieve from new state or local environmental regulations if the state Department of Agriculture deems they're doing their part to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. To get the deal, farmers would first have to reduce pollution from their land more quickly than is now required – an important point, supporters say, since farm runoff is the largest contributor to the bay's...