Morning News Digest: Thursday, November 13, 2008

With the PolitickerMD.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Maryland's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Panel calls for abolition of death penalty

A high-profile panel appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley recommended last night abolishing Maryland's death penalty, concluding that the state's system of capital punishment is too costly and vulnerable to wrongful convictions and fails as a deterrent to crime to be sustainable. (Lisa Rein, Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111202867.html

Cummings calls for resignation of AIG chief

WASHINGTON - Rep. Elijah E. Cummings called yesterday for the resignation of American International Group's top executive after news reports of another resort hotel event involving employees from the giant insurance firm. (Paul West, Baltimore Sun)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.cummings12nov12,0,2364079.story

It's Edwards in a landslide

Some final local notes on last week's election. Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D) was reelected to Congress last week with 85.8 percent of the vote, according to an early and informal count, giving her the widest margin of victory in Maryland's 4th Congressional District since 2000. (The Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111201627.html

A political victory so very personal

The celebration of Barack Obama's election to the presidency began early on election night and is likely to continue at least through Inauguration Day in Prince George's County, the nation's wealthiest majority-African American jurisdiction. (Ovetta Wiggins, Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111201570.html

State Republicans fired up for Steele

With speculation mounting that former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R-Prince George's County) will announce his candidacy for the Republican National Committee's chairmanship by Thursday, Maryland Republicans say he's their man for the job. (PolitickerMD.com)

http://www.politickermd.com/danielreiter/4174/state-republicans-fired-steele

Vice president's post on council in question

While all eyes were fixed on the national presidential election, another presidential campaign of sorts has been underway in Montgomery County. Council member Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville), the current vice president, is slated to take over as County Council president from Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty) next month. (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111201526.html

State looks into crabbing license

Anyone who wants to catch a crab in Maryland from the shore or a pier might have to pay to do so.  (Timothy B. Wheeler, Baltimore Sun)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.br.crabs13nov13,0,1868414.story

O'Malley gets his own TV show

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Baltimore) will be teaming up with Maryland Public Television this month to launch a live television series. (PolitickerMD.com)

http://www.politickermd.com/danielreiter/4172/omalley-gets-his-own-tv-show

Salary commission hears from county BOE

CUMBERLAND — Four of the five elected members to the Allegany County Board of Education described their executive, legislative and judicial responsibilities on Wednesday to the county Salary Study Commission. (Kevin Spradlin, Cumberland Times-News)

http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_318002753.html

With the PolitickerMD.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Maryland's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.