WEEK IN REVIEW

Jan. 9-15

Malpractice Insurance Limits Approved General Assembly Overrides Ehrlich's Veto

The Maryland General Assembly approved legislation to curb doctors' soaring medical malpractice insurance rates, overriding the veto of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R). The measure came during a rare emergency session in which Democrats succeeded in resurrecting several bills over Ehrlich's objections. It is the second straight year that Democrats have overridden some of the governor's vetoes.

The malpractice legislation will create a state fund from a tax on HMOs to limit increases in doctor's insurance rates to 5 percent next year; reduce a cap on damages for pain and suffering in wrongful death cases to less than $1 million; freeze damages available for pain and suffering in other malpractice cases at $650,000 for four years; and create a people's counsel to advocate for consumers against insurance companies.

Pr. George's Passes Slow-Growth Bill Measures Ban Applications, Impose Standards

The Prince George's County Council approved a bill that slows residential growth in the county's most undeveloped region by imposing a one-year ban on new applications for subdivision plans. Two other measures aimed at the largely rural, southern and eastern region of the county impose building standards on new houses and a four-month time frame for using a building permit. Officials said they need to slow development so they can create an overall growth policy.

Inauguration Traffic Plans Announced 200 Square Blocks to be Closed or Restricted

Federal officials announced plans to close about 100 square blocks of downtown Washington to vehicles on Inauguration Day and to restrict traffic on an additional 100 square blocks. Officials said the security plans go well beyond those in 2001 for President Bush's first inauguration as part of the widest shutdown of the core business district in recent memory. District officials criticized the federal government for forcing the city to divert money from its homeland security projects to pay for the inauguration. For more information about the street closures, go to the Web site, www.dc.gov.

U-Md. Gets Terror Research Center Grant-Backed Program Will Study Motives

The University of Maryland will create a research center to study how people become terrorists, what motivates them to strike and how communities cope with their threat. The university, using a $12 million federal grant, will lead the fourth Homeland Security Center of Excellence, making the College Park institution part of a growing network of university-based programs devoted to aspects of the homeland security mission.

Pr. George's Schools Aid Withheld Late Audit Submission Affects $10 Million

The Maryland State Department of Education has withheld about $10 million in aid from Prince George's County schools because the school system failed to submit its annual audit on time. The routine audit has been delayed because the accounting firm asked the school system to investigate purchasing decisions made by schools chief Andre J. Hornsby.

Across the Region Assisted Living Records; Offer to Sick Teacher

• Virginia has begun posting on the Internet its information about hundreds of assisted living facilities in the state, for the first time allowing the public easy access to inspection records that describe conditions in the homes. On the agency's Web site, www.dss.state.va.us/facility/search/alf.cgi, consumers can search for a facility by partial name, Zip code, city or type of services offered.

• Loudoun County School Superintendent Edgar B. Hatrick III has made a written offer to rehire seventh-grade English teacher Alison Yowell, 31, who was forced from her job after a cancer relapse. Hatrick also promised to recommend changes in medical leave policies that would allow "greater latitude" in future cases.