Thursday headlines from around the region.
McCormick & Co. Could Relocate: McCormick and Company may move its corporate headquarters out of Sparks. The Baltimore Business Journal reports that the leading spice maker is looking at putting all of its administrative facilities in one location, which could turn out to be somewhere else in Maryland or in southern Pennsylvania.
Leopold allowed to run: Former Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold can run for office again even though his misconduct conviction is being upheld. The Maryland Court of Special Appeals made that decision yesterday, striking down a section of Leopold's sentence that would have prevented him from seeking elective office. More here from the Annapolis Capital.
Empty Desks: At some schools in Baltimore city, 65 percent of students miss 20 or more days of school annually. But there are some bright spots. As part of our series Empty Desks: The Effects of Chronic Absenteeism, WYPR's Gwendolyn Glenn visits one school with a low rate of chronic absences.
Neighborhood definitions: The Downtown Partnership wants to better define Baltimore's downtown neighborhoods. The non-profit hopes that clearly mapping out boundaries in nine separate communities will help visitors traversing Charm City and create distinct identities for residents. The Business Journal has more, along with the Downtown Partnership's map.
Republican debate in Rockville: Harford County Executive David Craig, former Ehrlich administration official Larry Hogan and Charles County business executive Charles Lollar met yesterday in Rockville at a forum sponsored by the Chevy Chase Women's Republican club. More here from the Baltimore Sun.
No "Jesus" at Carroll County Meetings: A federal judge has ruled that Carroll County commissioners must stop opening their meetings with prayers to Jesus Christ. U.S. District Judge William QuarlesJr. granted the preliminary injunction in a lawsuit that was brought by residents who say they felt excluded by the practice. The Baltimore Sun reports the commissioners can continue to open their meetings with a prayer, but they must not refer to deities linked with any specific faith.
Opening Day For Negro League Museum: It's "opening day" for Maryland's Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball. Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz will cut the ribbon today on the museum, which now has a permanent home in the Owings Mills public library branch. The museum, with exhibits and displays of photos, artifacts and memorabilia, has been housed in various temporary locations since 1996. More here from the Carroll County Times.
