Homeownership credit program: The Maryland HomeCredit program is now available for help those who want to buy their own first homes but have income limitations. Under the plan, residents with incomes below a certain level looking to purchase property below a certain limit can claim a credit worth 25-percent of interest paid on a mortgage up to two-thousand dollars each year for the duration of the loan, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Prayer at public meetings: Carroll County commissioners are returning to their practice of saying sectarian prayers before their meetings. Commissioner Dave Roush and the rest of the board voted yesterday to revoke an April resolution banning prayers to a specific deity. The move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that prayer at public meetings does not violate the separation of church and state. More here from WJZ.
Conowingo dam: WYPR's Joel McCord reports that federal geologists said this week that silt trapped behind the Conowingo dam is not as responsible for Chesapeake Bay pollution as once thought.
Casino jobs: WYPR's Fraser Smith and Bryan Sears of the Daily Record talk about efforts by both Baltimore City and Prince George's County to ensure that jobs at new casinos go to local residents. It's today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics.
Frederick Baum: One of the 14 names being added to The Wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is from Baltimore. Army Sergeant Frederick Baum will be among those receiving the honor Sunday morning at the memorial on the National Mall. Baum was 41-years-old when he died in 1971.
Trash collection: A water wheel trash interceptor designed to make the Inner Harbor a lot cleaner is now in operation. The permanent wheel is capable of collecting a million pounds of trash each year. According to WJZ, supporters say that if all goes well, the Inner Harbor should be so clean by 2020, that it will be possible to swim and fish in it.
Nielsen layoffs: More pink slips are going out at the former Arbitron headquarters in Columbia. The Baltimore Business Journal reports that the radio ratings service was acquired by TV ratings company Nielsen last year. Now Nielsen says it will close its Columbia call center in August, resulting in 325 layoffs. Six months ago, Nielsen said it was laying off 333 people in Columbia.
Oysters: Oysters appear to be making a comeback in the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland's annual oyster survey shows the bay is boasting twice as many of the bivalves than were counted in 2010. State officials say while the gains are a major step in the right direction, there's still more work to be done before the industry fully recovers, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Baltimore football: The Baltimore Ravens have selected Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley with the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft.
Baltimore baseball: Steve Pearce hit a two-run homer to help the Baltimore Orioles sweep a three-game series over the Tampa Bay Rays with a 3-1 win on Thursday.