Politics & Government

Controversy over School Transportation and a Superintendent Retires: The Government Stories that Matter in Your Area

In this week's collection of Patch government stories, you'll learn how about the latest attempt by Maryland to save local money and libation.

Patch takes seriously the journalists’ credo to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Read all about what your elected leaders are doing in the community, and how it affects you, in the Week in Regional Government.


The local chapter of the civil liberties organization responded to a newspaper report of a perceived crackdown on homeless people at The Mall in Columbia, asking mall officials to reverse the banning of two individuals from the mall. Details are on Columbia Patch.

The 70-year-old restriction was put in place to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors, but for local wineries, the inability to send wine though the mail equated to lost sales. Now, a new bill is on its way that would allow wine to be shipped straight to your door. To find out why this may be great news for oenophiles, read how Direct Shipping Bill Permit Fee Could Impact Small Wineries in Maryland on Eldersburg Patch.


School officials had proposed saving an estimated $7.8 million by charging for transportation for students in special educational programs, but a letter from the state attorney general’s office raises constitutional issues. Get schooled on Laurel Patch.

Nancy Grasmick announced Wednesday that she will step down after nearly two decades leading the state's Department of Education. Learn about Grasmick’s contributions--including instituting accountability tests that have since become commonplace nationally under the federal No Child Left Behind law--on Colesville Patch or watch the live recording of Grasmick’s resignation on Elkridge Patch.


In an open work session last week, the Carroll County Board of County Commissioners proposed decreasing the county's property tax rate from $1.048 to $1.023, a 2.5-cent cut. That amount would lower county revenue approximately $5 million to $349.3 million in FY12.To make up for the revenue loss, the commissioners proposed decreasing funding to the Board of Education by close to $1.9 million. Details on the Westminster Patch


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