Friday, May 18, 2012
Ruling stems from divorce case filed by a couple married in California in 2008.
UPDATED (5:12 p.m.)—Same-sex marriages legally performed out of state must be recognized by Maryland Courts, according to a decision issued Friday by Maryland’s highest court. “Maryland courts will withhold recognition of a valid foreign marriage only if that marriage is ‘repugnant’ to State public policy,” wrote Court of Appeals Judge Glenn Harrell Jr. in the 7-0 decision. Legal experts and Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler said the decision has both immediate and long-term effects—even as the state moves toward a possible referendum on the recently passed law allowing same-sex marriage in the state. Gansler, who in 2010 issued what he called “a forecast” opinion predicting the court would ultimately recognize out-of-state same-…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Governor calls budget package "good for all Marylanders." Republicans say burden to local governments may force county governments to increase taxes.
The Maryland House of Delegates gave final approval Wednesday to a package of three bills that increases taxes on some state residents, shifts part of teacher pensions to local governments and undoes the so-called "doomsday budget." The votes Wednesday afternoon capped the three-day special session called by Gov. Martin O'Malley in order to override more than $500 million in cuts made in a budget passed in early April. The Senate approved the same three bills Tuesday. As part of the package, legislators approved by a vote of 86-51 what amounts to a 50-50 split of teacher pension costs with local governments. The split will be phased in over the next four years beginning July 1 with the new budget year. That bill also includes a doubling of…
Sunday, May 13, 2012
This week's top Prince George's County news.
Speed, Buzzard Contributing Factors in Sunday's Motorcycle Fatality David Christopher Norris, of Upper Marlboro, died Sunday after his motorcycle struck a buzzard causing him to veer off the road. Engine Overheats in NASA Goddard Building Containing Radioactive Material An engine at NASA Goddard overheated and smoked in a building containing radioactive material Thursday. Cafritz Hearing is Adjourned After six days, the Prince George's County District Council ended the evidentiary hearing for the Cafritz rezoning request. The developers want to rezone about 37 acres just south of College Park, in Riverdale Park, to Mixed-Use Town Center so that they can construct a Whole Foods Market, almost 1,000 residential units, and both retail and …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
A few highlights from this week's Board of Town Commissioners' meeting.
The Upper Marlboro Board of Town Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 8 for their regular monthly meeting. Couldn’t make the meeting? Here’s a quick rundown of what you may have missed. Commissioner Reports Business
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
In an interview on ABC News, the president says he supports same-sex marriage. The issue is likely to go to referendum in Maryland this fall.
President Barack Obama picked the day after a decisive vote in North Carolina to announce that his "evolution" on the issue of same-sex marriage was complete—he now supports it. In an interview with ABC News on Wednesday, Obama said: I have to tell you that over the course of several years, as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage—at a …
Plan to fix "Doomsday Budget" includes $247 million in tax increases and elimination of exemptions for single filers earning $100,000 or more and joint filers earning $150,000 or more.
UPDATE (5:59 p.m.)—Some Maryland residents will pay more taxes in the coming year under a plan worked out between Gov. Martin O'Malley and legislative leaders. O'Malley, accompanied by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, announced the nearly $35.8 billion plan during a Wednesday morning news conference in Annapolis to discuss the upcoming special session. "To leave this budget incomplete, to leave this budget as it stands right now, would damage the very forward motion that all of us, together, have worked so hard to achieve for our state," O'Malley said. "Progress is a choice," O'Malley said. "Job creation is a choice. Building America's number one schools, making a college education affordable, …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Upper Marlboro-based company has been convicted of fraudulently overbilling NSA for work performed in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
The Upper Marlboro-based Bechdon Company has agreed to pay the federal government $1 million for crimes relating to overbilling labor hours for employees working on a National Security Agency contract. According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, the penalty is part of a non-prosecution agreement with the government as a result of Bechdon cooperating with the investigation of the overbilling scheme. Also as part of the agreement, the current president of Bechdon will resign at the end of this year, and the company will sell the majority of its business operations. According to the testimony at the trial, Bechdon overbilled NSA for work performed during the late 1980s or early 1990s. The company manufactured …
The board of town commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting tonight, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall.
The Upper Marlboro Board of Town Commissioners will meet tonight for its regular town meeting. Tonight's ticket big item will be the commissioners' continuing discussion of the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget. Residents will have the chance to weigh in on their future cable needs and ask questions about the crosswalks and sidewalks planned for Old Marlboro Pike. Also up for discussion will be the town’s application for a “Sustainable Community” designation. Tonight’s meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the town hall, on 14211 School Lane in Upper Marlboro. June’s regular town meeting has been moved to June 5th, so that the commissioners can meet the town charter’s requirement to pass the annual budget.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
As part of our series on veterans and jobs, we're posting veterans' resumes on Patch. If you're a potential employer, we invite you to take a look.
If you're a veteran or have a veteran in your family, you know that the job market for those formerly in the military can be worse than for civilians. In Maryland, the 8.9 percent unemployment rate among the 28,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is higher than the state’s overall average. Veterans often get preference in hiring from government agencies but it's still tough out there. Patch has begun telling some of the stories of the struggles of veterans facing fewer employment opportunities, and the successes, too. But, we want to do more. If you are a veteran and are looking for work, we invite you to contact us so we can put your job search information on our sites. We'll feature you in your hometown Patch among hometown employers. We…
Friday, May 4, 2012
Residents can opt-out of the spraying service by submitting a Mosquito Control Exemption Form available at Town Hall.
They say April showers bring May flowers. But the warm, humid weather also brings more unsavory seasonal visitors - mosquitos. The Town of Upper Marlboro is one of the approximately 2,100 communities participating in the Maryland State Department of Agriculture’s Mosquito Section to reduce the occurrence of mosquito born diseases, and to aid parts of the state that are dependent on outdoor tourism during the summer. As part of the program, larval and adult mosquitoes are monitored to coordinate control activities, which include breeding source reduction, public education, biological control and insecticide applications via ground equipment or aircraft. Communities in Upper Marlboro are sprayed once weekly, on Monday nights. Residents who …
Arbutus Town Crier
11:09 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012
Look if people don't realize and judge that Love crosses all boundaries a true gift from from a greater authority, But we have our rights to believe and be tolerant. This leave me to conclude That its up to the states to decide Freedom of choice Nature has a way of working things out. no need to judge or be a bigot. Just fight for your sates rights We all have different views but I believe in … more ›