BERLIN — With the clock ticking on the expected billions of dollars of cuts in funding for several programs including furloughs and layoffs of employees in Maryland and across the nation, bipartisan federal lawmakers late yesterday were no closer to reaching an accord on the anticipated sequestration.Earlier this year, federal officials avoided an approaching “fiscal… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – A couple of favorable recommendations made by the Planning and Zoning Commission came before the Mayor and City Council this week to amend code sections and were quickly approved.Planning and Community Development Director Matt Margotta and Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith proposed to reinsert language in the DMX zone to allow low impact… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — With upgrades to the Mystic Harbour wastewater and water treatment plants ongoing, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has fined Worcester County $25,000 and set a deadline for upgrades no later than Aug. 31.Worcester isn’t taking the fines with a smile, however, with County Commission President Bud Church calling the action… Read more »

SNOW HILL — Maryland has once again topped the nation in terms of average Advanced Placement (AP) scores in public schools, and Worcester County can boast its students are continuing to improveThe announcement that Maryland once again leads all other states in terms of AP testing success came from Gov. Martin O’Malley’s office this week.“Because… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Although budget picture remains cloudy this week in Ocean City, the fiscal year 2014 General Fund revenue will fall short of expenses, staff told the Mayor and Council this week.Subsequently, city officials are brainstorming alternative revenues to close the gap without having to pull from fund balance this time around.At Tuesday’s meeting,… Read more »

BERLIN — With Berlin’s budget season approaching, both town leadership and Berlin Fire Company (BFC) representatives agreed that the dispute between the two agencies over funding might be nearing resolution.As has been the tradition with the conflict, however, neither side could make any guarantees.“I certainly hope that we have all that we need so all… Read more »

BERLIN — The debate over a possible repeal of Maryland’s death penalty intensified this week after a key Senate committee passed Gov. Martin O’Malley’s latest attempt to abolish capital punishment.Early in the current session, O’Malley made repealing the death penalty a top priority this year, but gaining the approval of the Senate Judiciary Proceedings committee… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — A future offshore wind energy farm, proposed as close as 10 miles off the coast of Ocean City, inched closer to reality this week with the anticipated passage by the entire state Senate now the only stumbling block from a legislative standpoint.Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013 was… Read more »

BERLIN — Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (WYFCS) visited the Berlin Mayor and Council Monday to give a regular report on the organization’s free youth program.Following the report, a resident voiced concerns that WYFCS “doesn’t have a presence” on the east side of town with the Berlin Youth Club. However, Mayor Gee Williams defended… Read more »

BERLIN — A bill introduced in the General Assembly this week would add Maryland to the growing list of states legalizing marijuana, but the measure will not likely see the light of day.Four Baltimore City delegates this week introduced House Bill 1453, which, if approved, would legalize marijuana in Maryland under certain specific conditions. The… Read more »