First-degree awesomeness

Awwwyeaah. Some lucky jurors today are enjoying the deets of Carl Snowden's latest case*-- you know, the one where he was smoking a blunt in a car parked in Druid Hill Park with the windows down in the company of a sex offender? (As opposed to the case where he was driving drunk, or the other case where he was driving drunk, or the case before that when he was driving drunk.) Apparently fearing the infinitesimal possibility that a city jury could be found that would give half a sweet goddamn, Snowden hired as his lawyer Stuart Simms, who was the State's Attorney pre-Jessamy and who, as it happens, the judge once worked for. So basically they'll work out a plea deal to sentence Snowden to a round of Jager shots at the Sidebar and probation supervised by topless models.

Brian Maye, 22, was arrested and charged with abducting and raping a 13-year-old who was walking along Edmonson Avenue on November 9. Also, a 13-year-old girl was snatched off the street and raped and her attacker was still running around free for five days, but the police didn't think anyone would want to know about that or are already operating on the assumption that there's probably at least one 20-something man driving around and raping young women in the city at any given time.

The ATF is driving around arresting 24 sundry members of a gun-n-drug operation (wouldn't you want to save that announcement until after you've arrested them?)

One Tarslia Jackson was found guilty of assaulting a 71-year-old woman in her care at the Northwest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and was sentenced to probation and a $35 contribution

Smokin Snowden's boss, Doug Gansler (and some other lawyers) squeezed a $90 million settlement out of lyin-ass drug dealers GlaxoSmithKline

A hand on Hedgepocket Way*

Life for Killer Dad

Hari Close III

Ugh, in a burg of awful cases, this one is ... no words. Life in prison for Hari Close III, an aspiring male model who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, admitting he stabbed his son Dalyire Damion McFadden* in the neck on the boy's first birthday. Still no clue as to what Close's motive might have been. Skitzy? Mad at his son's mom? We'll never know, I guess. The murder happened during the trial of those fetal-alcohol kids who set Phoenix the pit bill on fire, and the contrast between the interest and outrage surrounding that case vs. this one begs you to question what dogs are doing right that human children apparently are not.

... but it is nice that there are people do pay attention and care about stuff, like Charles Village's Steve Gewirtz, who's back on his grind, noting forthcoming cases plus a postponement for the drunkard who ran over some JHU students, left the scene, was sentenced to an interlock device (ooo) and has since been charged for driving with a suspended license three times, to no effect.

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The person shot at 28th and Fenwick in CHUM last night has died,* he was/is 18-year-old Christopher Briggs of Montpelier Street. Fenton notes that Briggs was charged with murder in 2009 at the age of 15, but prosecutors dropped charges due to lack of evidence.*

Accused child-killers Policarpio Espinoza and Adnan Canela's third trial began today; WBAL reports they've been offered a plea deal. Here's Julie Bycowicz's guide* to what's likely the most opaque and byzantine case in Baltimore history, a telenovela from hell. The alleged killers, also cousin and uncle of the victims, were/are all illegal immigrants from Veracruz, Mexico, and even after eight years and two trials, still no one's established a motive for the murders.

Van Smith has a rundown of the statuses of the various Nicka Conspirators.

Automatic license-plate readers that scan tags, check the criminal history of vehicle owners and track movements are already in some police cars, it appears, and Adam May and somebody named Captain Long took a look at the "police tool in action." Is this the news or Honcho? Someone pass me my salts, I'm getting the vapors!

A woman unlocking her car on S. Curley Street was stabbed in the stomach and robbed of her purse, another woman had her own hat pulled over her face and was punched in the face by a robber, a woman walking through Patterson Park and was choked and robbed while the perp's buddies laughed at her ... why does it seem like the SE is home to especially gratuitously sadistic robbers? (also see Sowers, Zach.) Lead in the pipes? Bayview human test subjects? Seriously, if you live there you really need to move the hell out. Way to kill my vapors, Baltimore Guide SE Blotter.

Another city officer is in hot water, though details are vague*-- Officer Roberto Santigo-Pagan is being investigated by the HarfCo Child Advocacy Center, which deals with cases of serious cases of child physical and sexual abuse.

Sasha Samlal

For shit's sake, this 15-year-old girl, Sasha Samlal, right, has been missing from Reisterstown since September 21 and police are just now releasing her photo.

The blech files: a 19-year-old with fetal-alcohol-y eyes who was arrested for robbing old people has also been linked to assgrabbing activities along East Joppa Road.

What the?! A professor of engineering at Morgan, Manoj Kumar Jah, has been indicted in a grant fraud scheme, wherein he allegedly solicited grants from the National Science Foundation to do research, but then used the $$ to pay his credit card bills, mortgage and give a $11k check to his wife.

The medical marijuana lobby is gearing up for its annual fight against the prison lobby. (Speaking of, according to The Sentencing Project, in 2010 MD had 70 prisoners housed in private, for-profit prison(s). Wonder what prison(s) and what companies run them?)

And finally, apropos of nothing, this painting of the Oriole bird, Mr. Boh and Poe doing the heroin lean deserves its own $24.5 million wing at the BMA.

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Two brothers were shot to death during a home-invasion robbery in the 2500 block of West Lafayette Street, their mother was also shot in the face but survived. (FWIW, The Spectator reported in graphic detail of how the brothers were shot at point-blank range in the head but police,* WBAL and WJZ report they were shot in the torso.)

A man was shot near E 28th and Fenwick and is in serious condition

Police have released a picture of some suspects in the brutal middle-of-town, middle-of-the day robbery/ beating of 32-year-old John Mason.

Apple, meet tree--involved dad Rodney Parker was arrested for taking a gun to a disciplinary meeting at his son's school, The Academy for College and Career Exploration in Hampden. Never heard of it, though it occupies the same address as Robert Poole Middle School, alma mater of the kids that perpetrated that horrendous beating of Sarah Kreager on the #27 bus in 2007. ... in case you were also wondering, Nikita McDaniels, that bus gang's 15-year-old alleged ringleader (and Robert Poole student body vice president) is still in an out-of-state juvenile facility until she turns 21, which will be sometime next year.

And finally, the Smoking Gun has uncovered Kevin Clash's Snuffleuphagus accuser, one Sheldon Stephens, an aspiring male model from Harrisburg, PA with a criminal history that includes phony checks and an "domestic" robbery from another rich older guy. TSG also pokes a major hole in TMZ's "six-figure settlement" claim. ...sounds like this fancy Nancy tried to shake down Clash and Sesame Street, failed, sold his story to TMZ, then stepped off when he realized The Street was not going to back down from defending their bazillion-dollar monster. Aww, I just want to give Elmo a hug! Elmo should really be more careful next time!

No taint on Elmo

.. but you knew that already. The accusations were brought to you by the letters B and S, and by the number "unknown six figures" (if "close sources" are to be believed). Winning comment from Gawker: "Good lord. Will we ever get a look at this guy? He's like the Snuffleupagus of sex accusers. Not since the blue dot accused a Kennedy of rape has someone remained so mysterious." (But why pay him off if nothing is true? But if they are true, why go to Sesame Workshop before the police?)

Also from the TMZ, a local bus driver delivering a beatdown to a student playing loud music.

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Justin Fenton ‏@justin_fenton

Unidentified man died yesterday after being stabbed in the 1800 blk of N Rutland Ave, near Broadway and North Ave, at around 3:30 pm (story here*)

A man and a woman were shot in the 2600 block of McKean Ave in Mondawmin.*

The East Coat Rapist, 41-year-old Aaron Thomas, has declined a plea deal

In Essex last week John Falkenstein Jr. was arrested for stabbing to death his "girlfriend" Janet Palasik, 48.*

Eww, a 39-year-old officer was accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old girl while on duty. Still, is it cool to announce his name publicly before he's even been indicted, given that (like Elmo's) the accusations are of the career-ending variety?

Fifty years for Marcus Lynch, convicted of rape, assault and kidnapping a 13-year-old girl in Frank C. Boeck Park.

Three flaming a-holes who scammed and also violently robbed elderly people, Sierra McCoy, 26, James Pasko, 29, and Vaneka Powers, 32, were indicted by a grand jury on related charges. James Pasko and his brother Christopher and their friend Michael Fields were also indicted on charges related to their robbery of a 90-year-old man.

Ten years for Eric Coley, 55, for his gun-toting, heroin dealing ways (and his co-conspirator was 60)

SCOTUS has agreed to review MD's ruling that bars DNA collection from people who have been arrested

Elmo's Got Male?

Three shootings this weekend,* which by Baltimore standards is not bad (unless you happened to be one of the three who was shot, of course)

Luke Broadwater: Baltimore's ethics board hasn't met in six years.* (un-Sun link)

The parents of Annie McCann have increased the award for information leading to her death

Easy-on-the-eyes document thief Jason Savedoff will spend a year and a day in prison for his part in a scheme to ferret away 60+ rare documents in secret pockets in his clothes. His considerably schlubbier "mentor" Barry Landau is currently serving seven years in the federal hoosegow.

What?! Master of puppets Kevin Clash has been accused of having inappropriate relations with a 16-year-old-boy(!). Clash denies the allegations, and they frankly sound a little bit sketchy, but who knows. Clash is, of course, the creator/voice/puppeteer of Sesame Street's beloved Elmo; he grew up here in Baltimore in Turner's Station and got his start at WMAR. He was also once married (to a woman) and has a daughter, he's 52 and his accuser is now 23. Clash acknowledges the relationship but says it only got physical after the guy reached the age of consent.

Accused flea-market brawler Shane Quinet

A guy was hit in the head with a rubber mallet during a motorcycle-gang fight at a flea market in Dundalk; the gangs have been named as the Demon Souls and the Titan Motorcycle Club. Scott Huffines illustrates this on his blog with a dancing MC hammer (oh wait, I get it!). According to a random Web page, the Demon's Souls were founded in Philadelphia and in 2010 merged with the 1%ers.

The toddler found wandering alone on Belair Road has been reunited with his shitty parent

Really? In spite of the fact that the majority of Americans favor decriminalization or legalization of marijuana, Rodericks reports that pot arrests accounted for 43 percent of all drug arrests* in 2011. And lest you think that here in Baltimore police have bigger fish to fry, in 2010 the city averaged 18 marijuana possession arrests a day; marijuana arrests accounted for 1/4 of all of the arrests in the state. Wonder if it'll make a difference to have Anthony "Oaksterdam" Batts is in charge?

Speaking of all of those bigger fish, a friend of mine got her purse stolen from Frazier's on 36th street at about 1 a.m. Saturday before last. She doesn't drink, for what it's worth. The purse was next to her chair and someone picked it up and walked out with it. The perp(s)  then went on to rack up $1200 worth of purchases in the following hour, at the Royal Farms and the Falls Road Carroll Fuel and Exxon stations -- rather an impressive feat in itself. How much gas and pork rinds can a person buy? But here's the puzzler: Frazier's, the RoFo and the gas stations all have cameras, and of course the credit card companies know the exact moment when the purchases were made. The perps also went back to the stores repeatedly, returning to the Keswick Ave RoFo five times. Accessing their images shouldn't be at all hard to do. But my friend was told by the Northern district that because her purse was a larceny and not a robbery, the police will not look at the tapes. You'd think credit card companies would have something to say about that, I wonder why they don't? Anyone else have a similar experience?

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The body of Joshua Boone, 26, was found in a wooded area in the Frankfurt neighborhood near the 5100 block of Goodnow Road.

And down in Laurel, a rap duo lay down some tracks in a recording studio... then robbed the studio. 

No fool like an old fool

The best revenge, as they say, is getting over it. The worst revenge might be Randall Martin Jr.,'s -- pouring gasoline on your ex- girlfriend's door, setting her house on fire, then fleeing to the home you share with your wife, forcing her to barricade with you for hours. Fortunately, everyone but the ex's pet survived.

Antonio Johnson, 52, left, was arrested for stabbing his neighbor Deb Simon to death in Pigtown.

A toddler was found wandering alone on Belair Road

Police are ISO one Lucresha Mints, right, for attempted murder, call 911 if you see her. Also, it's 2012 and Band-Aids for grownups still only come in pink, what's up with that?

It's a mystery as to why the city school police union voted 'no confidence' in their chief

Police and friends are searching for Kevin Donnelly, 77, a sculptor who suffers from dementia.

The city has awarded a new speed camera contract* - Xerox is out and Brekford is in. At least those million$ are going to a MD company, right?

So Jesse Jackson was here yesterday, protesting the youth jail.* Yes, we should be spending money on education, but at the moment these kid perps are sleeping in poo and getting the tar and teeth beaten out of them in the grownup prison-- what would Jesse Jackson and anti-youth-jail people have us do with them, I wonder? "I said 'hell no' to the jail and 'hell yes' to opportunity for our youth," Young said. So you want we should send a 16-year-old murderer to come to your house to fold your damn underpants* then? If funding education is important to Jack Young, why has he had nothing to say about the outrageous waste and fraud* uncovered in the school system in the recent audit (and the audit before that)? Bitchin is easy, fixin is hard... 

Cheery Pinwheels

So a camera captured an image of Tyrone Alson, 19, left, shooting his "girlfriend" Tashawna Jones in the back of the mf'in head* while she was standing on the gd'd street at 26th and Guilford at 5 o'fcknclock p.m. Yet "Court records show Alston was charged Oct. 20 with drug-related charges, but was released on his own recognizance as police built the murder case against him." Yes, kids, he was out and about, free as a jaybird for 11 days. Did the SAO not give homicide permission to arrest him? And even if that's the case, why was he not held on the drug charges? .. just when one thinks one is sufficiently grizzled and cynical enough not to be shocked by what goes down in this town... gahhh! (And what's with the "900"tattooed on his forehead?)

Campbell left, Waller right

Remember Kenyon Waller and William Campbell, arrested on October 1 after being tied to three* off-the-street abductions, robberies and sexual assaults? The pair has now been tied to crimes against 11 victims. Though unlike Tyrone Alson they have been in jail for the past month, at least.

A car stolen this morning with a 7-year-old in it in the 5900 block of Fairwood Ave in the NE -- the driver (presumably dad) left the boy in the car to drop off another child at daycare, he was dropped off at a bus stop. The car, a silver 2004 Ford Explorer, license tag No. 828M506, is still missing, call 911 if you see it. And, er, don't leave your kid(s) in the car with the car unlocked and the keys in the ignition, for fuck's sake.

Police have turned over their evidence in the case of Anthony Anderson's homicide to the SAO*

This Pigtown crime map shows various malfeasances as cheery pinwheels

Sheila Dixon has been charged with a probation violation for being behind $13k on her mandated charitable contributions (woman hain't got no job, how is she supposed to pay?)

Batts gets officially sworn in today, also also Jesse Jackson (Sr) will be in town to form a soul and kosher coalition against the new youth jail. (How I wish there was a better-quality clip of this) (also apropos of nothing Baltimore or crime, quality article on Jesse Jr. in the NYMag this week)

The FBI is working on a new biometric facial recognition mobile app, say they're two years away

The MD Divorce Lawyer Blog helpfully posts a guide for same-sex couples on how to get married in MD. I'm sure the law offices of Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin and White wish all of our newly minted fiancees many months of married bliss... followed by several years of protracted bickering over every piece of flatware in the house. (I kid! I kid!)

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Joshua Noble, 25, 500 blick of S Longwood St

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A 51-year-old woman was stabbed to death in a house in the 1200 block of Washington Boulevard.

Let's get stoned and watch the alligator

187: Lawrence Thomas, victim of a home-invasion robbery at 3125 Artaban Place

32-year-old John Mason is in the hospital with a fractured skull after being stomped in the middle of his head in the middle of the day in the middle of downtown* by five men during what police say was an attempted robbery.

A mysteriously un-alive male body was found in Middle Branch Park in S Baltimore near Waterview Ave and Cherry Hill Road, Fenton Tweets "Woman who says she knows victim said he and girlfriend have been living in these woods since the summer in a makeshift campground.."

Headline of the day: "Police seize drugs, alligator in drug bust," the alligator's owner is allegedly one Michael Bolden, a member of Dead Man Inc.; police also found "approximately 159 grams of kind bud marijuana." (is that a technical term?) 

Delaware online helpfully lists the Delmarva denizens in the Boy Scouts' "perversion files." And isn't it so interesting that the two of the most visibly, stridently anti-gay organizations in the U.S., the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts, were also both the most insistent against any/all evidence that gay people = child molesters, while simultaneously working overtime to protect actual child molesters? 

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Terrence Seale, 29, 1200 block of Linworth Avenue, in addition to murder of Erwin Daniels on Lakewood Ave makes for two homicide vitcims (so far) this weekend. There were also five other shooting victims, including three 20-something men shot within six minutes of each other* this weekend. Also to add to the toll: Dewey Hampton, 47, died 10/31, and Anthony Diggs, shot in 2001 but ruled a homicide in the past week.* Diggs may have been paralyzed from the waist down, but he didn't let his disability get in the way of his dreams: in 2008 he supplied a gun to some stickup men, and after the robbery drove them away in his modified Cadillac.

What the?! According to the Brew, should question 7 pass, the SRB administration is primed to fork over $6 million in community development money to Casear's Entertainment Group/ Harrahs Casino. Said Mary Pat Fannon (previously semi-famous as the recipient of one of Sheila Dixon's gift cards, now a policy advisor for the mayor's office), "This is not a $6 million give-a-away as insinuated by the [Baltimore Brew], but a recommended reimbursement." Ba-dum-tssshh!

After a six-week federal trial, Daniel McIntosh was convicted of "con­spir­ing to dis­trib­ute and pos­sess­ing with intent to dis­trib­ute 100 kilo­grams or more but less than 1,000 kilo­grams of mar­i­juana" which Van Smith reports earns him a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, but not the mandatory life sentence he would have gotten if he'd been convicted of more than 1,000 kilos. McIntosh is former co-owner of the now-closed Sonar and Talking Head clubs and (still open) McCabe's restaurant in Hampden, and also allegedly part of a massive pot-dealing conspiracy. VS notes in comments, "The pilot, Keegan Leahy, was also convicted of some charges, acquitted of others. He was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of pot, and interstate travel to promote crime, and not guilty of money-laundering counts. He faces a maximum five-year sentence, but, without prior convictions, will likely get on the low end of that."

The Sun's Kevin Rector has more details in the tale of David Kwiatowski, the medical technician who traveled around the country infecting people with Hepatitis C* -- apparently Kwiatowski was an addict  who stole syringes of fentanyl and then replaced the stolen needles with ones he'd used to inject his Hep-C-infected self with. (fentanyl = hardcore pain medication, main ingredient in epidurals)

Against questions 4 & 6: Rob Siobhani. For questions 4 & 6: Nike®, PayPal® and Nordstrom®.

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Unidentified man, 30, 600 block of Lakewood Avenue.

Also in E Baltimore at @3 a.m. Saturday a 3-car accident that injured 5 also struck a police car.

Puzzler from the FB page: why does WMAR call what happened to the jogger in Fell's Point/Canton "rape," but the Sun*, WBAL and WJZ don't?

Batts walks streets, finds that no one wants to talk to him,* asks his #2 "Why has heroin been so pervasive here, and why has it stayed?" Good question, no? I assume it's because the world's purest heroin comes in through our port (when have you ever heard of heroin being found in a shipping container at the port? I have never. But perhaps this because their inspection procedures are so excellent no distributor would ever even take the risk. What do I know.)

Police caught a Pikesville burglar with a tattooed forehead

One Lorne Stockton was arrested for looting a Landsdowne CVS during Sandy

Political corner: the MD Juice notes that the National Harbor pro-question-seven group has also spent $272k towards defeating Questions 4 and 6.  The Juice also has your Tuesday-night party schedule.

Jogger Raped in Fell's Point

Between 5 and 7 a.m. today.

Allegedly Lying about the Fictitious

? "The Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City charged Baltimore City Police Department Detective Adam A. Lewellen today with eight criminal counts, including four counts of misconduct in office, for allegedly lying about a fictitious controlled narcotics purchase in order to gain access to a victim's home."  ... What, like "U4EA"? Oh, wait no, he lied on an affidavit. So he claimed somebody tried to sell him drugs when they actually didn't soasto get a warrant for their home? Was this somebody his babymom or did this cause some horrible individual to get free on a technicality or something? Or is Mr. Lewellen being Made an Example of? Hrm...

Intrepid courtwatcher Steve Gewirtz saw the case of Shakira Grey, getaway driver for two armed robbers of the liquor store at E 21st and Charles, get two years in prison; noted that Dwayne McCoy, accused of robbing and shooting a man in the 2600 block of St Paul St was out on bail and then had his charges dropped when the victim lost confidence in his identification of McCoy as the suspect.

Speaking of math professors, of the allegation that concealed-carry reduces crime, John Allen Paulos says "I simply don't buy it." ...no verdict from Richmond yet and probably not for several more months, but FWIW a recording of the 4th circuit Woollard hearing is available in AmmoLand. Also an article entitled "Is Obama Creating a Pro-Gay Boy Scouts of America?" Er, mayhaps you didn't get the memo, Chuck Norris, but I'm pretty sure there are not a whole lot of boys clamoring to join the Boy Scouts at the moment.

Michael Allen is Dead

Justin Fenton @justin_fenton Two killed last night* Also the man who police said was dead [Michael Anthony Allen, 40, shot in the 1100 block of Homewood Ave], then said he was only gravely injured, has died as well .*

"vote 'for' if you want it and 'against' if you don't"

A hefty $500k bail for Vernoica Alford,* the mom accused of helping her son and his friend hide the body of Monae Turnage and hiding the gun that killed her in police officer John Ward's car.

Remember Stop Fucking Snitching (Volume I)? Of course you do. One of the film's stars, Sherman Kemp, is back in trouble, in spite of having been in jail for the last four years. Kemp was indicted on gun and cocaine charges in 2007.

A mere six days out of getting out of prison for his part in the BGFamily's prison-smuggling conspiracy, Marlow Bates, left, was arrested for possession of a stolen DOC badge.

Say what? Remember the sexual assault reported on the CONDOM campus? Police now say the student "miscommunicated" and no assault took place*.

Justin Fenton ‏@justin_fenton

RT @BaltimorePolice: Shooting: Dartmouth/Marjorie. Adult male reported to be shot. Detectives investigating.

Justin Fenton ‏@justin_fenton

Homicide has been notified about the Carriage Ct shooting due to severity of victim's injuries

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12hJustin Fenton ‏@justin_fenton

Third shooting victim reported tonight, hospital walk-in. Three people shot, one stabbed so far on Halloween night in Baltimore

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12hJustin Fenton ‏@justin_fenton

SW RT @BaltimorePolice: Shooting: 5300 Carriage Ct. Adult male reported to be shot. Detectives investigating.

The variegated malfeasances of the Southeast District include burgled coffers of a church gift shop, assaults from perps named "Chico" and "Deandre," a kid shot by a BB gun by his cousin, and a woman who pepper-sprayed another woman who told her she looked "like a man." (So many good comebacks to that, people should really be more creative.)

An audit of the office of the Orphan's Court Register of Wills uncovered not just the usual "time sheet shenanigans" but also a convicted felon on the payroll. (Register Mary W. Conaway is the daughter of Circuit Court Clerk Frank Sr. and sister of legislator/author Frank Jr.) (Why is the office not the "Registrar" of wills?)

SRB approved a $200k service-contract extension for Psychology Consultants Associated, which provides psychological treatment to police officers.

In Towson a liquor store on Taylor Ave was burgled of $4,000 worth of smokes and hooch*

An Owings Mills guy is charged with trying to strangle a woman

The Dryclean Direct of Pikesville was robbed of $833.75

SCOTUS takes on drug-sniffing dogs

The City Paper's published its election guide, which is curiously opinion-less (eg. "Vote “For” the amendment if you want major city agencies to be audited at least once during each four-year term of the city’s elected officials or “Against” if you don’t."

Michael Allen is Alive

Kind of amazing that this could happen, but Twitter never lies: Fenton posts that Michael Allen, the Parkville man who police said this am was fatally shot last night in E Baltimore, is NOT dead but gravely injured