Light Rail

Two men were sentenced in the death of a Glen Burnie man who was shot as he walked toward his Light Rail stop in Baltimore Highlands nearly two years ago. Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge S. Ann Brobst sentenced Damonya Cook, 20, of Glen Burnie to a life sentence, while Keith Burgess, 23, of Halethorpe received a life sentence with all but 35 years suspended, according to a release from the county state's attorney's office. The two men had been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Vincent Thomas, 20. Thomas' body had been found in a field at Annapolis Road and Illinois Avenue in Baltimore Highlands on Feb. 19, 2011.

Even though there's no promise of construction money, the state is pushing ahead to draft blueprints for Baltimore's $2.2 billion Red Line light rail project. The Maryland Transit Authority has asked a regional transportation panel to approve $55.6 million in federal funds for preliminary engineering — a request that was put on hold last year until congressional passage of a two-year, $105 billion transportation package. The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board is scheduled to vote on the request Nov. 27 and will accept public comments at a meeting Thursday afternoon at Baltimore Metropolitan Council headquarters.

As of 9 a.m. Thursday, traffic was slow on I-70 westbound near I-695 in Baltimore County, due to an accident. Accidents were slowing traffic on Route 97 near Hook Road in Westminster, Park Heights Avenue near Devonshire Drive in Baltimore City, Old Stockbridge Road near Meadowridge Road in Ellicott City, and Fort Smallwood Road near Cloverhill Road in Anne Arundel County. Traffic signals were malfunctioning on College Parkway at Green Holly Drive in Annapolis. A disabled vehicle was blocking traffic on I-895 northbound near the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore City.

Travel restrictions on Baltimore City roads were lifted at noon, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said. Maryland State Police are urging people to stay off roads until highway crews are able to clear away fallen trees and other traffic hazards. They warn that downed power lines and wind-blown debris are blocking roads around the state. In addition, they say, power failures have caused traffic lights to go out around the region. In Garrett County, portions of I-68 were closed due to blizzard conditions.

All world-class cities have extensive mass transportation systems, but with the exception of Toronto - which has a robust streetcar program to support its massive subway network - virtually every city in North America has abandoned streetcar systems ("A streetcar named Charles?" Oct. 3). Only now are cities like Washington beginning to bring streetcars back as a way to get people from neighborhoods to their subway spurs. Strong mass transportation is critical to strong quality of life, and in a city with high levels of middle- and low-income residents, mass transportation is all the more important.

The Baltimore Sun A man stabbed an unidentified victim in a fight over a cellphone at the Westport light rail station Friday night, triggering a two-hour closure of the station, according to the Maryland Transit Administration. The altercation occurred about 6:30 p.m., when a man tried to take someone's cellphone at the facility in the 2200 block of Kloman St. in South Baltimore. When the victim fought back, a fight between the two spilled onto the station platform, where the assailant stabbed the phone's owner at least once, the MTA reported.

Baltimore's architectural review board had little to say about renderings of the proposed Harrah's Casino on Russell Street. However, the hulking parking garage sitting behind it — looming above the water, facing drivers on Interstates 95 and 395 — came in for scathing criticism. Three members of Baltimore's Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel who met with representatives of the project Thursday rejected the casino plan, saying the parking structure would mar the city's skyline.

My husband and I are devoted Oriole fans watching almost every game daily on MASN unless we are out of town, etc. And I know this is true of many of our long-time Oriole fans ("Baby, come back," Aug. 31). We live in Columbia and try to attend at least three or four games throughout the season. However, it isn't easy getting to and from the stadium due to traffic conditions most of the time and unless you have season tickets parking is also difficult. I watch the number of fans filling other stadiums and find that these stadiums (especially those with large crowds even during the week)

A bumpy patch along Pratt Street that sent racecars airborne Friday meant a slow start for the first day of the Grand Prix of Baltimore, the much-anticipated reprise of an event that converts city streets into an adrenaline-inducing fast track. The 2-mile racecourse through the heart of the city's tourist district shut down intermittently while crews worked to resolve the springboard effect of the light rail tracks at Howard and Pratt streets. That interrupted practice and led to the cancellation of qualifying rounds for drivers, who will compete in races this weekend.

As of 9 a.m. Monday, traffic was slow on U.S. 50 westbound at Md. 450, due to an accident. Accidents were slowing traffic on the outer loop of I-695 near Security Boulevard in Baltimore County, Hollins Ferry Road near Hammonds Ferry Road in Baltimore County, Route 32 eastbound near I-95 in Howard County, the Belair Bypass near Route 24 in Harford County, Carroll Island Road near Eastern Avenue in Middle River, and Mayfield Avenue near Windsor Mill...