New Law

It's been a worry for many years: What happens when older federal workers retire and take decades of institutional knowledge with them? "The last thing any manager or any organization or company wants is for folks that are ready to retire to just walk out the door," said Kenneth J. Zawodny Jr., associate director of retirement services at the federal Office of Personnel Management. With the aging of the workforce, the challenge has grown urgent. More than 40 percent of federal employees in 2010 were 50 or older.

While we agree with Katie Huffling that safe, responsible, tightly-regulated natural gas development must be done in a way that protects "the health of our communities and the environment," her recent op-ed ("The hidden health risks of fracking," July 20) lodges a series of claims that are simply unsupported by the facts. Her claim that rural communities are "being destroyed by drilling" is as inflammatory as it is false. We live and raise our families in these communities and care deeply about protecting our environment.

Defenders of Maryland's new same-sex marriage law say they took in an eye-popping quarter of a million dollars last night at a Chevy Chase fundraiser. The soiree, hosted by philanthropists Susie and Michael Gelman, was attended by Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, said Kevin Nix, a spokesman for Marylanders for Marriage Equality. About 70 attended, he said. The state's new law allowing gays to marry is set to be on the November ballot, and advocates on both sides have been blasting out email solicitations in recent days.

An Anne Arundel County judge pulled the plug Thursday on the gambling operation at a Chesapeake Beach bar, but said the Crooked I Sports Bar & Grill can try to restore its mini-casino when the case goes to trial. Judge Philip T. Caroom denied the Crooked I's request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed its 105 slots-like machines to continue operating until its case is tried. Caroom said he will file an opinion Friday. The business is challenging a new state law that would end its lucrative gambling business.

High-earners in Maryland will feel a financial pinch as employers start withholding more money from paychecks to accommodate the higher income tax rates approved by the General Assembly in May and signed into law by Gov.Martin O'Malley. The tax increase is one of hundreds of new laws taking effect with the July 1 start of the state's fiscal year. Several major environmental changes are in store, including a doubling of the "flush fee," curbs on developments that use septic systems and a requirement that the state's largest communities impose fees to clean up polluted storm-water runoff.

Maryland diners have been taking their own wine into BYOB restaurants for years, but those include only establishments without beer and wine licenses. Beginning Sunday, Maryland diners will be able to take their bottles into some licensed establishments. A new law permitting the practice, widely known as corkage, goes into effect Sunday. Expect confusion, at least at first. A restaurant can choose whether to allow corkage. It can also determine the fee it charges diners for the privilege, which is also known as the corkage fee. But don't expect every restaurant to have corkage up and running on Sunday night.

Outside West Baltimore's Penn Station Liquors, folks say the store is no place for children. Only a block away from Westside Elementary School, Penn Station is one of four liquor businesses within feet of each other on North Fulton Street. Youngsters sometimes wander in to buy candy, soda and chips - stocked next to the alcohol, flavored cigars and sex pills. "Kids don't belong here," says Pauline White, 50, who lives nearby. "When people start drinking, they get crazy. " On Monday, the City Council overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill, championed by freshman Councilman Nick Mosby, to make it illegal for liquor stores to sell anything to minors, including seemingly innocuous goods such as snacks or T-shirts.

Defenders of the state's Dream Act say voter education will be key to their success in November, when Marylanders weigh-in on a new law that lets some illegal immigrants pay in-state tuition. "Our goal will be be education about what the Dream Act really does," said Travis Tazelaar, campaign manager for Educating Maryland Kids, the ballot committee defending the law. He estimated that "millions" would be needed to fund a state-wide campaign. The ballot committee was created in December 2011, and reported $75,000 in donations in April when they last filed financial disclosure forms with the state board of elections.

Think of Annapolis and you see Naval Academy midshipmen in their crisp whites, the spires of ancient churches and the masts of sailing yachts. The glittering dome of the state capitol and the rows of historic houses painted in lipstick colors. It is my town, and even I see it that way. I don't, however, see chickens. I will, though. More than 50 people attended a meeting at the Annapolis Library to learn more about a new city ordinance that will allow them to keep as many as five laying hens on their property, and some of them were my neighbors.

Activists working to repeal Maryland's same-sex marriage law have collected more than twice the signatures needed for a referendum — likely ensuring that the measure will be on the ballot for voters to decide in November. The law's opponents submitted 122,481 signatures in favor of a referendum; 55,736 are required. If enough are verified as legitimate, as expected, Maryland will be in the center of a national debate on same-sex marriage, with groups on both sides preparing to spend millions.