Maryland

The following are up-to-date results showing how Maryland voters' decisions on several statewide ballot questions, including referendums on gay marriage, in-state tuition rates for undocumented immigrants and an expension of gambling (results for Washington County reflect early voting and 54 of 54 precincts reporting): Question 3, Constitutional Amendment Changes the point at which an elected official charged with certain crimes is automatically suspended or removed from office.

Time out, time out, we can still do something about this before we get too much further into the season. It's just been one weekend, so we can stop the madness now. Please, let's all go back to normal football uniforms before something happens that we all regret - if it hasn't happened already. I confess to feeling an uneasy twinge in the pit of my stomach Saturday night when the University of Georgia Bulldogs took the field wearing uniforms that made their offensive line look like 300-pound cardinals.

The Maryland state champion Federal Little League 11-12 All-Stars, of Hagerstown, march onto the field during opening ceremonies at the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament in Bristol, Conn., on Friday. Their first game is against Delaware today at 2 p.m.

The following area students were named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Allegany College of Maryland: Bunker Hill, W.Va. - Amber Campbell  Clear Spring - Mark Mowen Hagerstown - Sharon Trovinger, Kristi Wuerstlin Hancock - Ashton Cook McConnellsburg, Pa. - Tiffany Bunch Paw Paw, W.Va. - Ethan Holliday, Jessica Miller, Amy White Warfordsburg, Pa. - Ashley Diehl, Emily Garland

Applications are now being accepted for the title of Mrs. Maryland International 2013, an official preliminary to the Mrs. International Pageant, which will be Tuesday, July 16, through Saturday, July 20, at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Theater in Chicago. The woman selected as Mrs. Maryland International 2013 will become an ambassador from Maryland and will receive an official title, crown and sash. Competitions will include private one-on-one interview, with each contestant selecting a platform that she will speak about throughout her reign; fitness wear (in lieu of swimsuit competition)

On Friday, Jan. 6, I had the privilege of speaking during the Battle of Hancock Sesquicentennial Commemoration at the Hancock Performing Arts Center. The four-day event was coordinated by Ms. Lily Wolford and included many activities for young and old alike. My hat is off to her and to the town of Hancock for their efforts. In my view, the Hancock event was a fitting start to Civil War commemorations statewide in 2012. In preparing my remarks, I came across some information that I thought would be interesting to readers along the same lines as my column published last Sunday.

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Milton Harris is a product of guidance and direction. Listening to both influences has made him the person and the football player he is today. When it comes to direction, the University of Maryland defensive back has looked to his parents, his cousin - former Maryland defensive back Madieu Williams - and coach Ralph Friedgen. It has turned Harris from walk-on transfer into impact starter in the Terrapins' secondary. But when it comes to direction, Harris gets his game plan from a higher power.

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Maryland's lottery director said Powerball could be coming to the state in four or five months. Buddy Roogow told WBAL-AM that an official announcement could come in the next few days. Roogow said negotiations have taken place over the last several months between officials in the states that operate Mega Millions and Powerball. He said that Powerball ticket sales in Maryland should bring in $25 million in additional revenue each year to the state. Roogow said he expects sales to total $50 million in a full year.

A vehicle pulling another vehicle on Interstate 81 flipped over Friday evening, sending one person to the hospital and clogging traffic, a Berkeley County 911 dispatcher said. One person in the crash was taken to Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. The crash, which happened around 7 p.m., slowed traffic in the northbound lanes, near the Maryland state line, the dispatcher said.

Author, physician and Maryland legislator Dan Morhaim will give a presentation and sign his book "The Better End," from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at Ramada Plaza Hotel, 1718 Underpass Way, Hagerstown. "The Better End" is about hope, empowerment, and inspiration at the end of life. Seating is limited. To reserve a seat, contact Judy Ranieli at 301-739-1500 or judy@serafinifinancial.com .

Sisters Whitney and Audreanna Colombo share a common dream: to be crowned Miss Maryland.  Whitney, 23, who is Miss Urbana, will compete for the fourth and final time this weekend for the state title, which is part of the Miss America Organization.  Audreanna, 19, Miss Queen State, is competing for Miss Maryland for the first time.  “I told (Audreanna), 'I'm winning this year,' and then I'll crown her next year since this is my last year,” Whitney said during an interview in the sun room of their home near Hagerstown.  But one thing is for sure, no matter the outcome of the pageant, which is being held this week in Hagerstown, the young women have each others' utmost support.  “I think the competitive nature among sisters is definitely different than it is among the rest of the contestants.

A work group established by the Maryland Municipal League's legislative committee seeks passage of statewide legislation that could result in future tax savings for Hagerstown residents, according to a city official. Hagerstown City Councilman Martin E. Brubaker, a MML legislative committee member who serves on the double taxation work group, presented the group's final report Tuesday during a meeting at City Hall.  Brubaker said the work group - established this year to research legislation that would prevent double taxation on municipalities by counties - settled on a formula already in state legislative code but only applied in Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

Antietam Academy Principal Ike Williams said Tuesday that he is retiring from Washington County Public Schools to become assistant principal at the new Spring Mills High School in nearby Berkeley County, W.Va. Williams, 60, who lives in Berkeley County, has worked in Maryland education for 36 years. “I thought it was a neat opportunity to go back to my roots,” to a comprehensive high school, Williams said. Being involved with a new high school and helping to set the tone appealed to him, Williams said.

A Funkstown man has been charged by Maryland and Hagerstown fire officials with posing as a fire marshal after allegedly pretending to conduct safety inspections at five Washington County businesses. Johnathan Theodore Stahley, 22, of 102 E. Baltimore St., was charged by the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office with four counts of personation: member of an emergency squad, according to the statement of charges obtained Tuesday from Washington County District Court. The State Fire Marshal's Office also charged Stahley with one count of theft of $1,000 to $10,000.

The powerful chord struck by most patriotic American songs isn't necessarily the music. It's the sentiment. Songs like “The Star-Spangled Banner” or “Battle Hymn of the Republic” can lift spirits during hard times, enrich our appreciation of heritage and inspire a strong love of country. Some originally were written as poems, others are anthems that span the centuries - from the earliest days of our nation to contemporary country and rock hits. But they all have one thing in common: They're proudly made in the U.S.A.

Two hearings in Western Maryland next week will give the public a chance to comment on a rate hike request from a local gas utility that would increase costs by more than 16 percent for most customers. Columbia Gas of Maryland Inc., filed a request before the Maryland Public Service Commission in late February, asking to adjust its rates  to recover money that was required to upgrade the company's underground gas distribution facilities, according to a news release. The proposed rate increases are designed to boost revenues by $5.3 million, company officials have said.

A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that police in Maryland and elsewhere can continue the warrantless collection of DNA from people arrested - but not convicted - of serious crimes. The 5-4 decision upheld a state law that allows investigators to take genetic information from arrestees, a practice followed by the federal government and about half the states. Police generally compare suspects' DNA to records from other cases in hopes of developing leads. The case, which amplified a long-running debate over the limits of government search-and-seizure powers, began with a challenge from a Wicomico County man linked to a rape after his DNA was taken in an unrelated arrest.

Even though the Western Maryland Blues Festival is celebrating its 18th anniversary this weekend, longtime loyals who have stuck with the music fete since the start were not hard to come by Saturday. William Shanton of Martinsburg, W.Va., was at the Downtown House Party in the City Center parking lot on Saturday, enjoying Blues Fest just as he has for the past 18 years. “This is my vacation,” said Shanton, 75. “Every year is great and every year is a little different. That's a good thing.

Opponents of a measure to repeal the death penalty in Maryland said Friday they fell short of their goal to collect enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot in the 2014 election. Del. Neil C. Parrott, one of the leaders of the effort, said about 15,000 signatures were collected since the beginning of May. That number fell short of the nearly 18,600 certified signatures required by the Friday deadline. Friday's deadline was the initial hurdle. A total of about 55,750 certified signatures were needed by the end of June for the issue to go to a voter referendum.

“Every bad situation is a blues song waiting to happen.” - Amy Winehouse “You don't have to live the blues to play the blues.” - Herbie Mann “Let's have some fun, son.” - Herbert Smith OK, Herbert Smith is a guy from Baltimore, not a famous bluesman, but that was all he had to tell Phil Reynolds to get him to come to Hagerstown on Friday for the 18th annual Western Maryland Blues Fest. They joined a few thousand other people under a hot sun to listen to cool music and, perhaps, enjoy a cold beer.