Morning News Digest: Friday, November 14, 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.

Steele announces candidacy for RNC chair

Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R-Prince George's County) officially announced his candidacy for the Republican National Committee's chairmanship on Thursday. (PolitickerMD.com)

http://www.politickermd.com/danielreiter/4181/steele-announces-candidacy-rnc-chair

O'Malley pushes for repeal of death penalty

LARGO, Md. — Gov. Martin O'Malley said Thursday that he hopes a state panel's recommendation to repeal capital punishment will cause lawmakers to take "a fresh look" at the issue and approve banning the death penalty in Maryland. (Associated Press)

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/11_13-62/OUD

The search for Kratovil's replacement begins 'right now'

The process of finding state's Attorney Frank Kratovil's (D-Stevesville) replacement has officially begun. Darrel Pressley, a spokesman for the Maryland Judiciary, said the process will begin "right now" by "advertising for the position." Queen Anne's County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Ross, who's in charge of nominating Kratovil's successor, will begin reviewing applications immediately, with interviews beginning in early December, according to Pressley. (PolitickerMD.com)

http://www.politickermd.com/danielreiter/4179/search-kratovils-replacement-begins-right-now

Leggett draws up $49M in fast cuts

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett recommended $49 million in midyear budget trims yesterday that would affect nearly all aspects of government service -- from a dozen Ride On bus routes to senior centers to after-school activities for teenagers to ambulance transport. (Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/13/AR2008111302457.html

Dixon to slash budget by 10 percent

Mayor Sheila Dixon plans to announce today steep, across-the-board spending cuts - potentially hundreds of millions of dollars - as Baltimore confronts a worsening economy and prepares for expected reductions in state aid. (Annie Linskey, Baltimore Sun)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.ci.cuts14nov14,0,3538124.story

State seeks way to back aquaculture industry

Seeking to boost Maryland's fledgling aquaculture industry, the O'Malley administration plans to introduce legislation to make it easier for people and businesses to raise oysters or other shellfish in the Chesapeake Bay. (Timothy B. Wheeler, Baltimore Sun)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.aquaculture14nov14,0,6849341.story

Economist to Hagerstown: '2009 is not going to be a good year'

WASHINGTON COUNTY — Last year, during a speech to local business leaders, economist Anirban Basu predicted that the nation’s economy would take “a year or so” to recover from its slowdown. (Joshua Bowman, The Herald-Mail)

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=208327&edition_id=2146&format=html

Low interest rate to help fund capital projects

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners awarded Citigroup Global Markets Inc. the issuance of the general obligation bonds at a rate of about 4.369 percent. The national average for similarly rated municipalities is about 5.13 percent interest, according to a county press release. (Beth Ward, Carroll County Times)

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/11/14/news/local_news/newsstory2.txt

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.