U-Md. Student Dies in FireInvestigators Rule That Blaze Was Arson
A fast-moving early morning fire killed a University of Maryland senior and critically injured a housemate who saved himself by jumping from a second-story window of their off-campus home.
Firefighters found the body of Michael A. Scrocca, 22, of Branchburg, N.J., on the second floor of the house. Investigators have ruled that the blaze was arson, drawing their conclusion largely from the presence of a gasoline can on the front porch near where the fire began.
Montgomery Pricing Out WorkersFewer Than 25% of Firefighters Live There
Montgomery's affordable housing crunch has reached yet another milestone as a report shows that fewer than 25 percent of the county's firefighters live where they work, with the largest number living in Frederick County.
County planners have projected that the median price of a new single-family detached home in Montgomery will exceed $1 million in about three years.
Duncan Proposes Tax Aid for SomeSeniors, Fixed-Income Residents Targeted
Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) announced a plan to offer additional tax cuts to seniors and those living on fixed incomes, amid recent criticism that he has not offered residents broad property tax relief.
If approved by the County Council, Duncan's proposal would triple the number of residents eligible to apply for discounts on their property tax bills.
Mother, Baby Die in Pr. George'sCar Left Running; Murder-Suicide Suspected
A Prince George's County man came home from work to find his wife dead and their baby unconscious in the garage of the family's home in Upper Marlboro. The baby died afterward in what police believe was a murder-suicide.
Jane Brathwaite, 35, and the 20-month-old, Rasheed, were found inside a car with its motor running in a closed garage, police said.
Gang Prevention Funding ThreatenedMontgomery Cuts May Also Hit Drug Programs
Montgomery County's gang prevention and drug treatment programs have emerged as targets for cuts in the County Council's debate over the 2006 budget.
A council committee finished work on a Department of Health and Human Services spending plan and recommended $2.6 million in reductions, including elimination of the post of gang prevention coordinator and funding for a community center designed to help young people stay away from gangs.
No Insurance Relief Yet for DoctorsPromised Help With Premiums Stalled
More than four months after the Maryland General Assembly met in an emergency session to grant doctors relief from their spiraling insurance costs, the promised help has yet to arrive.
A series of delays has prompted finger-pointing between leading Democratic lawmakers and state insurance regulators and has caused headaches for doctors, many of whom expected state subsidies to be reflected in quarterly bills arriving this month.
County Kills New Sex-Ed ProgramVictory for Montgomery Parents Who Sued
The Montgomery County school superintendent called off the launch of a new sex-education curriculum, hours after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against it.
The order was a significant victory for two community groups, which filed suit to block teaching of the material.
