MARYLAND BRIEFING

He was charged with second-degree assault and child abuse.

Maryland law allows corporal punishment as long as it is not excessive or unreasonable, said State's Attorney Scott L. Rolle (R). "That's obviously up for some interpretation," Rolle said. But because two officers provided different accounts, there is reasonable doubt, he said. He added that the boy had no visible injuries.

-- Aruna Jain

HOWARD COUNTY

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High Court Rejects Zoning Bill Challenge

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The Maryland Court of Appeals has rejected a challenge of a Howard County zoning bill, effectively killing a drive to put the bill to a referendum Nov. 7.

The seven judges of Maryland's highest court decided Tuesday to deny a petition by citizen activists challenging the ruling of a lower appellate court against a referendum, said Maryland judiciary spokeswoman Sally Rankin.

"The court has spoken. The Board of Elections is accepting the decision, and the petition will not be on the ballot," said Guy L. Harriman, president of the county election board.

The case involved a 2005 County Council bill that critics charged was a convenient vehicle for little-publicized, hastily added rezonings sanctioned by a majority of the council.

The Board of Elections said last year that the activists, organized as Citizens for an Open Process for Everyone, had followed the law in petitioning for a referendum. But property owners who benefited from the zoning bill sued, arguing that the petition was improper, and they eventually prevailed in court.

"It seems to me that it's an unfair, uphill battle because you've got citizens going in, trying to follow the rules and regulations and ultimately being kicked out," said Katherine L. Taylor, the Columbia attorney for the petitioners.