We round up the schedule changes for this Columbus Day. Plus: Doug Gansler is expected to announce that he’s chosen Delegate Jolene Ivey to be his running mate in his 2014 gubernatorial bid; the announcement comes amid reports that Gansler ordered troopers to drive unsafely while transporting him. And more.
Columbus Day Schedule Changes: Courts and banks are closed today, on this Columbus Day holiday. Also closed today: federal government offices, state government offices, and local government offices in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Carroll County. But Annapolis and Anne Arundel County government offices are open. Also open: local government offices in Frederick, Harford, and Howard counties. Schools are open today, too. The Metro Subway, the Light Rail and local MTA buses are running on regular schedules. But there are no MARC trains today. And commuter buses are off as well – excepting Route 201, which is on a holiday schedule. There's no regular mail delivery from the post office today, but express mail delivery is still going on. There's no regular trash or recycling pickup in Baltimore City - but trash removal service goes on as usual in many other jurisdictions. And when you’re out and about today, don’t forget to bring your change; the region’s parking meters don’t take Columbus Day off. More on today’s schedule changes here from the Baltimore Sun.
Gansler To Name Jolene Ivey As Running Mate: State Attorney General – and 2014 gubernatorial hopeful -- Doug Gansler is set to name his running mate today. Speculation is that Gansler is has chosen Prince George's County Delegate Jolene Ivey as his lieutenant governor candidate. Ivey represents Maryland's 47th District and her husband is former Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey. The Washington Post notesthat the Iveys are close friends with Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker; Baker has not endorsed a gubernatorial candidate yet. Gansler lives in Montgomery County; adding Ivey to his campaign could help in vote-rich Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, but political watchers tell the Baltimore Sun that an all-Washington-region ticket could be a disadvantage in the Baltimore region. Also in the race for the Democratic nomination are Montgomery County Delegate Heather Mizeur, who hasn’t picked a running mate yet, and current Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, who wants Howard County Executive Ken Ulman to be his Lieutenant Governor.
Where Will MoCo Support Go In Governor's Race? WYPR's Fraser Smith and Bethesda Magazine columnist Louis Peck talk about the decision facing members of Montgomery County's political establishment on who to support in the Democratic primary for governor.It’s this morning’s edition of Inside Maryland Politics.
Gansler Allegedly Ordered Troopers To Drive Unsafely: Gansler’s announcement of his running mate comes after Sunday’s report in the Washington Post that the Attorney General ordered state troopers to drive in an unsafe manner while transporting him. The Post points to a memo from 2011, issued by State Police Lieutenant Charles Ardolini; it alleges that Gansler regularly ordered troopers taking him to routine events to put on the lights and sirens, to run red lights, speed and drive on the shoulder to avoid traffic jams. A Gansler spokesman admits that the Attorney General can be an “annoying… backseat driver” and Gansler has apologized to any of the troopers who “felt [his] backseat driving made them uncomfortable.” But Gansler says the overall picture being painted by the memos and e-mails that the Post has published is untrue. The Baltimore Sun reports that Gansler’s camp is also calling the timing of the revelations “politically motivated” – and is blaming supporters of gubernatorial rival Anthony Brown for them.
Baltimore Beltway Closure: A portion of the Baltimore Beltway near White Marsh will be closed every night through Thursday from 10pm through 5am. The closures will shut down all lanes of the inner loop at exit 33 in Baltimore County, as crews take down an old overpass. The Baltimore Sun reports that traffic will be diverted north to I-95, then west on to White Marsh Boulevard, then south on I-95, then back to the inner loop.
Russell Street Closure: Commuters can expect major traffic congestion near where the Horseshoe Casino is being built in South Baltimore. Starting today, a city transportation official says commuters who use Russell Street should find an alternate route because multiple lanes on Russell will be closed. The traffic snarls by the work will likely cause problems for Ravens games; the president of operations at M&T Bank Stadium tells the Baltimore Sunthat they’re still tweaking their plans for game-day Sundays, and says officials will relay that information soon.
Santoni’s To Close: Santoni's Supermarket in southeast Baltimore is closing its doors for good, which will mean over 80 employees are being laid off. The supermarket has been an institution in Highlandtown since the 1930s, but owner Robert Santoni Jr. says the city's bottle tax has driven them out of business. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake tells the Baltimore Sun that she is deeply saddened by the closure, but rejects linking the closing to the bottle tax.
Baltimore Football: the Ravens lost yesterday’s game against the Green Bay Packers; the score was 19 to 17. The Ravens will play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday of next week.
Marylander Wins The Baltimore Marathon: A Maryland resident is the winner of the Baltimore Marathon for the first time since the event started 13 years ago. The Baltimore Sun reports that Dave Berdan of Owings Mills was the men's winner at Saturday's Baltimore Running Festival and was in the lead for much of the marathon, finishing with a time of two hours, 30 minutes and five seconds. Elizabeth Perry of Pittsburgh won the women's race with a time of just under two hours 58 minutes.
