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Fuel Fix

Environmental advocates were among dozens of witnesses lining up to testify Monday on a bill laying out Ohio’s new regulations for horizontal shale drilling and the use of renewable energy.

The testimony before the House Public Utilities Committee was part of a debate on a wide-ranging energy bill that passed the Ohio Senate last week with support of Republicans and some Democrats.
[...]
Sahli said a provision prohibits medical professionals who access proprietary chemical information about the wells from disclosing that information outside of treating individual patients. He said the wording would prevent a doctor from alerting local health departments and first responders.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The government has sued several big banks over toxic mortgage securities they issued that were bought by two small Illinois banks which failed in May 2009.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which seized the two banks when they failed, filed the civil lawsuits Friday in federal court. The agency named as defendants banks including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, UBS and HSBC.

Mark Roth ― Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Which of these facts are you pretty sure of?

We only use about 10 percent of our brain’s capacity. Drinking booze kills brain cells. Vaccines have been linked to autism. Playing classical music to your children can enhance their IQs.

In fact, according to the new website BrainFacts, none of these statements is true. The elaborate website—www.brainfacts.org—was launched last week with $1.5 million in funding over the next six years from the Kavli Foundation in Oxnard, Calif., and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation in London, and with the guidance of the Society for Neuroscience in Washington, D.C.

James Vicini ― Reuters

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that children conceived through in vitro fertilization after the death of a parent were not automatically entitled to survivor benefits under the Social Security law.

The justices unanimously sided with the Obama administration and overturned a U.S. appeals court’s ruling for a New Jersey woman who is seeking benefits for her twins conceived by artificial insemination after her husband’s death.

The high court case pitted new reproductive technologies against longstanding requirements to qualify for child survivor benefits under the Social Security Act that date back to 1939.

Board Docs - May 22, 2012 - Charles County Commissioners’ Meeting

9.01 [6:00 p.m.] Recognition: Potomac River Watershed Clean-up Participants

PRWC Certificates 2012 updated list.pdf (221 KB)

The Bay Net

Governor Martin O’Malley is designating May 20-26 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week – the same week the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) plans to release biocontrol agents in Anne Arundel, Charles, Howard and Prince George’s counties to help kill the invasive pest that has been destroying the state’s ash trees since 2003. The ash tree is one of the most important urban trees in Maryland and an important woodland tree in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

“With the beginning of the summer vacation season upon us, we remind residents that they can do their part to help stop the spread of the emerald ash borer by buying firewood in the area where they will burn it and not moving firewood to the Eastern Shore,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “Ash trees are important to our environment by shading and cooling our neighborhoods in the summer, by providing buffers along our streams, and as part of our timber industry, so we need to do what we can to stop this destructive beetle in its tracks.”

Nate Atwell ― The Bay Net

Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th hosted the 2nd annual Warrior Dash, A day of mud, drinking, running and more mud. Upwards of 7,000 ran a three mile obstacle course through Budds Creek. The crowds were made up of all ages and fitness levels and were from all across southern Maryland and well beyond.

“It was tougher than last year” a woman covered head to toe in mud like so many others exclaimed as she walked towards the spray off area, where water hoses are aimed at freshly finished racers.

Dick Myers ― The Bay Net

Bernie Fowler has been the watchdog of Maryland’s rivers for a long time. He founded the annual Patuxent River Wade-In which has become the model for similar events around the Bay, including one every year in the St. Mary’s River.

St. Mary’s River Watershed Association honored Fowler Sunday at “A River Affair” at historic Woodlawn Farm in Ridge. The well-attended event featured an afternoon brunch served by Michael and Lisa Kelley, music by Gretchen and Randy Richie, a silent auction and wines from the Slack Winery.

SARAH BRUMFIELD ― WTOP

Maryland officials hope to teach police officers and social services workers to be the state’s front line in a battle against sex trafficking.

Being a little “nosey” and knowing what signs to look for during everyday interactions and who to alert can make a difference in uncovering what is too often dismissed as a victimless crime, Homeland Security Special Agent Adrian Sanders said.

“Anyone who is observant will see it,” Sanders said. “The victims aren’t going to reach out for help, so it’s up to us to approach them.”

WTOP

Maryland will gladly take $50 a year from residents who want vanity license plates. However, one can’t put whatever one wants on a tag.

There are more than 4,000 words, phrases and letter-number combinations that the Motor Vehicle Administration has on its Objectionable Plate List.

SCOTT MAYEROWITZ ― WTOP

If you’re flying this summer, be prepared to kiss your family goodbye at the gate. Even if they’re on the same plane.

Airlines are reserving a growing number of window and aisle seats for passengers willing to pay extra. That’s helping to boost revenue but also making it harder for friends and family members who don’t pay this fee to sit next to each other. At the peak of the summer travel season, it might be nearly impossible.

By Tom Sherwood ― WRC-TV (NBC4)

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

The first criminal charges in the federal U.S. Attorney investigation of Mayor Vincent Gray’s 2010 campaign for D.C. mayor have been filed.

Thomas W. Gore, who was Gray’s assistant campaign treasurer, was charged with three counts of making contributions in the names of other people and directing the money to a second campaign, believed to be the campaign of minor candidate Suliamon Brown.

Board Docs - May 22, 2012 - Charles County Commissioners’ Meeting

6.02 [3:30 p.m.] Briefing/Approval: Proposed FY2013 Economic Development Grants (Ms. Deborah Hudson, Director of Fiscal & Administrative Services/Mr. Eugene Lauer, Interim Acting Director of Economic Development)

Economic Development-Tourism FY13 Funding Recommendations.pdf (10 KB)

Board Docs - May 22, 2012 - Charles County Commissioners’ Meeting

6.01 [2:30 p.m.] Budget Work Session (Ms. Deborah Hudson, Director/Mr. David Eicholtz, Chief of Budget, Department of Fiscal & Administrative Services)

1_FY13 ProposedGeneralFund.pdf (598 KB)

Board Docs - May 22, 2012 - Charles County Commissioners’ Meeting

3.07 [10:45 a.m.] Approval: Board of Education’s Inter-Category Budget Change (Ms. Deborah Hudson, Director of Fiscal & Administrative Services/Mr. Paul Balides, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Business Administration & Technology, Charles County Public Schools)

Inter-category budget change for BOE.pdf (125 KB)